Nora Phoenix's Blog, page 5

Interview with Enar Magnusson

This week, I’m having a chat with Enar Magnusson from the Irresistible Omegas series. Technically, I should say doctor Magnusson, if not for the fact that this man couldn’t care less about titles. In fact, he insists on being called by his first name. It’s just one of the many reasons why this man has stolen so many hearts.

Enar, thank you for sitting down with me.

My pleasure, Nora. Though I can’t imagine why your readers would be possibly interested in learning more about me than they already did in your books. It’s not like I’m the most exciting character, not even of the four of us.

Who would that be?

Well, Lidon would have to come first, I suppose, what with him being the True Alpha and all, but both Palani and Vieno are so much more fascinating than me. Palani is the beta who’s doing an alpha’s job and kicking ass, and Vieno is… He’s so strong and yet so kind. He’s this intriguing combination of dirty and innocent, of sexy and sweet, of strong and soft at the same time.

And you?

I’m just… I think the most interesting thing about me is my job. That’s where I feel I make most of a difference.

Let’s start with that, then. Has the clinic reopened now that order has been restored in the capital?

Yes. I insisted this had to be high priority, and Palani and Lidon agreed. Now more than ever, omegas need help. The hospital in the city needed weeks to be fully operational again, and even then, omegas lost a lot of trust in alphas after what had happened. They are well aware how close they came to being little more than slaves if the general had gotten his way. And the support from powerful alphas for that still has them shook. It’s not easy to forget that your alpha-neighbor basically wanted to make you his slave, his play thing, to strip you of all your rights. How can you trust alphas ever again after that? And considering most doctors are alphas… No, we needed to be back in business soon, and we were. Maz and I worked long, long days to help everyone who came to the clinic. We even taught Lucan how to do certain small medical procedures, like taking vitals, drawing blood, and giving shots. I’d love to have an actual nurse, but for now, the pack is closed, and I understand why.

How do patients treat the two of you? Maz is an alpha and you present as one, even though you’re not.

Our reputation has preceded us, luckily. Word of mouth from omegas we treated has resulted in many of their friends and relatives showing up, knowing they’ll be treated as equals. It helps that the first person they usually see is Lucan, who is a beta and a very non-threatening one at that. And Maz has a very calm, peaceful demeanor, so patients quickly trust him, even though he’s an alpha.

And you?

[smiles] You had to ask the hard questions, huh?

If you don’t want to talk about this, I completely understand. I’ll back off.

[takes a deep breath] My identity is a hard thing to talk about. I do because it matters, and if I can give even one person the courage to live their lives authentically, it will be worth it, but it’s not easy. I am a beta, but every time I look in the mirror, I see a body that doesn’t match who I am. That’s a daily struggle.

How young were you when you realized you were different?

Very young. I think I’ve always known, deep inside, but I didn’t have the words for it when I was a child. Lidon and I have been friends forever, and seeing how easy being an alpha was for him, how natural… I didn’t have that. It was always a struggle for me. Even back then, submitting to Lidon came naturally, which pissed my father off to no end. I didn’t even do it on purpose, but if Lidon suggested something, I followed. It’s how I’m wired. But it took me a long time to put it into words, to voice what had been inside me all along. No wonder, since there’s still such a taboo on this. Being an alpha is what everyone is supposed to want, so how can you turn your back on that? How can you deliberately turn away from the privilege you were born with? The judgment from others is strong, and not just from my father.

How do you feel about it now?

It’s gotten easier, but it’ll never not be a struggle, if that makes sense. Palani and I were talking about it the other day, and he commented on how much more I’ve become a beta in the way I act, how I position myself toward others. Even for a beta, I’m not very stubborn or strong-willed. [laughs] Unlike a certain beta we all know…and love. But Maz commented on it as well the other day, that he;’s noticed I’m deferring more to him, even though I’m technically in charge of the clinic. But that was never a position I wanted for the prestige of it. All I want is to help omegas, and other than that, I really don’t care. For someone who presented as an alpha at birth, I have very little ego. I appreciated Maz making sure I didn’t feel like he was overruling me. He is an alpha, and it shows…as it should. But I’m happy the way I am, and that’s taken me a long, long time to say.

You can still act as an alpha when the situation requires it. I remember you standing up to Grayson, for example, to protect Lars.

I did…but I’m not sure I could still do it. To protect my men, yes, and maybe my brothers, but that’s it. I’ve let go of that part of me since it’s always felt forced and foreign to me. I have no use for it anymore, not with the power of Lidon behind me. And let’s not forget Palani. That man would slay dragons for the people he loves.

Palani… Can we talk about how you felt when he was sick?

[his face tightens] I’m sorry, Nora, but I don’t think I can. The thought of losing him was… I can’t. You know, the old legends said that when one of a pair of mated fates die, the other follow quickly. I never understood how and why, but I think I do. Palani is… He’s our sun. My sun. Without him, I’m not sure my life would’ve been worth living. I would have continued, if only for Lidon, Palani, and Hakon, but a part of me would’ve died with him.

Let’s talk about something happier, then. You guys have two kids now, Hakon and Mahina. How is it to be a dad?

It’s the biggest miracle in the world. When we discovered that Hakon was ours biologically and not just Lidon’s… That in itself is a miracle, but it doesn’t compare to being a dad. To see the joy on his face when you walk into the room, hear him cry out, “Dada!” and then come running to you on those wobbly little legs… It gets me every single time. And Mahina is like her father, all fire and stubbornness. We’re gonna have our hands full with that one. [laughs]

Vieno said your child would be next…

I… I can’t express what that would mean to me. Even after everything that has happened, I’m scared to hope, to count on it, even though I know deep inside he’s telling the truth. He says it will be a beta boy, and that he’ll be just like me. Only he will have the body to match his identity, and that’s… [tears up] That’s the biggest miracle of all. As a dad, you want nothing more than for your kids to be happy and healthy, and to know that he’ll never have to face that struggle is… It’s everything.

When we started talking, you said you weren’t that interesting. What would your mates say if they heard that or heard someone else say that about you?

[hesitates for a moment, then grins] Vieno would passionately list all the reasons why he thinks I’m awesome. Lidon would use far fewer words, but he’d defend me against anyone with his alpha power, and that would do it. And Palani… Palani would kick my ass for saying that about myself. So I guess I’d better be nicer about myself, huh? [laughs] Although arguments with Palani have been known to have a very happy ending…

The post Interview with Enar Magnusson appeared first on Nora Phoenix.

Two New Audio Releases

Sometimes, it takes Audible weeks or even months to publish a book, and sometimes they do it in under 24 hours. Whatever the reason, I’m happy to report that I have two new audio releases. Both Ranger (cowritten with K.M. Neuhold) and Press (White House Men 1) are now available on audio, both narrated by John Solo.

Ranger is the sweet, sexy, and slightly hilarious romance between Ranger, an Army vet with PTSD, and Julian, a happy-go-lucky animal trainer. With the “help” of a couple of dogs, horses, chickens, a deaf dinkey, and an ornery goat, they manage to find the way to a happily ever after, giving you a few good laughs, maybe a tear or two, and all the feels. John did a great job bringing this story to life…

The second audio book that releases is Press. Some of you may remember that originally, I had hired another narrator to do the White House Men series. Unfortunately, I wasn’t happy with the final product, and so I pulled them. Audible did still put that version of Press up for sale, however, even though they weren’t supposed to, and so I know some of you may have bought that version. If you did and you’d love the new one, send an email to my PA pa (at) noraphoenix (dot) com with proof of purchase of the old version, and she’ll send you a code for the new one. One the other hand: you do now own a collector’s item, haha. John will also narrate the rest of that series, and he’ll do No Surrender, which will hopefully be done shortly after release.

Happy listening!

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Mini Reviews: Five Five-Star Reads

I haven’t done one of these in for-freaking-ever and not because I haven’t read any good books lately, so it was about damn time I did another round of mini reviews. No theme here, just a completely random selection of five books that I’ve read relatively recently that I absolutely loved.

We Have Till Dawn – Cara Dee

A guy falls for the older client who has hired him for sex. Hot, sexy, but also super sweet and all the feels. I loved reading about a realistic autistic character. Great secondary characters, which is really one of Cara’s strong points. Grab it here.

We Have Till Monday – Cara Dee

You may have guessed it, but it’s the second book in the same series. An existing MM couple adds a third man into their relationship. Very complicated but beautiful dynamics, with an age gap and daddy kink with age play (minor). If you loved my No Shame series, this will appeal to you (no suspense plot, though). Loved the characters. Grab it here.

Origin – AJ Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake

Gah, this was so freaking good. Dragons, action, humor, great worldbuilding, grumpy dragons, slapstick-funny dragons, fantastic characters, and a feel good romance. Everything just meshed together into an amazing story. Grab it here.

Over and Over Again – Cole McCade

A super slow burn romance with an age gap, gorgeous writing, and a beautiful story with characters you’ll remember. All the feels in this one. Grab it here.

Anything Goes – Chara Croft

Super sexy smut like only Chara can write. Best friends to lovers, size difference, a jock and a nerdy boy, straight to gay, a little domination play, it’s all there. It moves deliciously slow, so if you’re more into fast-paced, this ain’t it, but I love it. Grab it here.

That was it! What are your last five-star reads?

(All links are Amazon affiliate links and lead to the US store)

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Interview with Palani Hightower

I know many of you have been looking forward to this interview, as Palani has a lot of fans. My PA, Vicki, for example, is one hundred percent #TeamPalani, haha. But I was excited myself as well, if also a little apprehensive since interviewing a reporter is always an interesting experience. But Palani was in the mood to chat, and we ended up having an amazing conversation. Make sure to read the amazing story of Palani and the Hayes Pack in the Irresistible Omegas series.

Palani, thanks so much for making the time to talk to me. I know how busy you are.

You know, I thought that once the country would calm down, things would get less hectic in the pack, but alas. Even though we have fewer members now that the Hightower pack has been established, I still have a full to do list every day.

What’s your least favorite thing to do?

I don’t mind any of it, to be honest. Sure, there are jobs I definitely like more than others, but overall, I can’t think of anything I really hate. If I had to pick, I’d say the food logistics, like estimating needed quantities and doing orders and stuff. That shit gives me a headache because it involves a lot of moving pieces, like how much Lars can harvest in produce, if we’re slaughtering any livestock, etc. I get it done every week, but that part is definitely not my hobby.

What part do you love?

The planning. Once a week, I sit down with Kean, Lars, and Servas, and we discuss where we’re at with the animals, the crops we grow, and the construction and maintenance. Those meetings are always inspiring because it’s so cool to see we’re becoming more and more self-sufficient. The necessity is a little less now that things have calmed down politically, but we all agree that we still want to strive to be as self-sufficient as possible.

How has the pack recovered from everything that has happened over the last two years?

[takes a deep breath] I think we’ve recovered well, but the scars remain. They’ll fade a little more over time, but we’ll never be able to forget and live on as if nothing happened.

What cut the deepest?

Losing Jawon. Lidon rarely talks about it because he’s not a talker, but I know losing his cousin has left deep wounds. The guilt is hard for him to get rid of. Rationally, he knows that it wasn’t his fault, but emotionally, it’s a lot harder to process. He still mourns and grieves him. Every now and then I catch him sitting by Jawon’s grave, especially just before full moon. It’s become a special place for him where he reconnects with the Earth and the Moon, thanking them for the power they’ve given him and promising he’ll honor his place as the True Alpha.

Kean still struggles with this as well. He still has nightmares on occasion where he’ll wake up screaming and crying because he wasn’t able to save Jawon. It’s gotten better, and he’s talked a lot with Delton, the psychologist who joined the Hightower pack. Bray is not a talker and offering emotional support is not his forte, and Kean doesn’t want to burden Ruari too much either, so he mostly talks to Delton…and to me.

You two are still close?

[smiles] Like twins. I love having him in the pack and I know he feels the same. We lean on each other, and it’s amazing to have this connection with him where I don’t need to explain anything. He just knows, and he’ll be there.

I’d imagine he has not only a trauma from losing Jawon, but from your brush with death as well…

I don’t think anyone walked away unaffected from that, me included, but Kean and Enar definitely suffered the most. Of course Lidon and Vieno were hit hard, but they process differently. Vieno may seem like this sweet, weak little omega, but he’s so strong. In that sense, Enar is much more vulnerable. His heart is so wide open, so gentle… He’s still overly worried every time I have a headache or am not feeling well, and I let him fuss about me because I understand where it’s coming from.

One of the things that really impressed me as I was writing your stories is how much you’ve all grown and changed.

[nods] We have. All of us, though I still maintain that no one changed more than Lidon. Seeing him transform from an arrogant alpha who might have been aware of his privilege but wasn’t above using it to a man deeply committed to equal rights for all has been nothing short of a miracle. He’s so open to corrections now, to feedback. It’s still hard for him because he’s a perfectionist, but he listens and he tries so hard to do the right thing. But I see that change in all the alphas. Take Bray. He truly was a bit of an alpha asshole, but if you see him now… God, no one is a more doting father than him. If you see him with Jax, taking him by his little hand and proudly walking around the farm with him while carrying Kekona in a sling, it’s just the most beautiful thing. The other day, he and Grayson were both out with their kids, and I swear my eyes just grew wet watching them. Three generations of love.

You and Kean became biological fathers as well.

I was blown away when we got the DNA results back on Mahina. We all thought she’d be Lidon’s or maybe with mixed genes again–and not even Sando has been able to explain that one–but she’s mine and Vieno’s biologically. For me, that was already a wonderful surprise, but for kean even more. He always wanted kids, and the pain of not being able to father them was deep and real. A lot of emotional healing took place when he found out Kekona was his. And if I hadn’t loved Bray already, his reaction sealed the deal because he cried even harder than Kean, if possible. He was so freaking happy for him, and how can you not love him for that? But the notion that betas can now father children again has been an incredible boost for the packs.

How does Enar feel about it?

For him, it’s all even more complicated, of course. I know he struggles with his alpha body at times, but it’s gotten better and easier for him. He loves being a dad, but I know that he’s all but counting down until Vieno is ready for baby number three. Vieno has said it will be a boy, Enar’s beta son, and by now, I’m not doubting him anymore. I think that it will be a healing experience for Enar, to see himself in his son. I hope he’ll look just like him, especially his beautiful blue eyes…but even more than he has his heart. That man’s capacity for love is beyond anything.

And to think that once upon a time, you literally had to slap sense into him.

[rolls his eyes] He still likes to remind me of that, no matter how often I’ve apologized. But say what you want: it did get his attention and it sure as fuck left enough of an impression that he’s still talking about it, haha.

How’s the Hightower pack doing? Has Sivney killed Rhene yet?

[laughs out loud] No, but he just might today or tomorrow. Watching those two is like ping pong at times, a constant back and forth, but they work surprisingly well together. Rhene does really understand and embrace Sivney’s strengths, and in return, Sivney fully respects Rhene’s authority. He’s still learning, of course, which makes sense considering how young he is, but they’re doing well. He’s lucky to have mature men in the pack who help him with advice, like Naran, Maz, and Lucan. In the beginning, he had some issues leaning on them for support, but he’s getting better at it. Being pack alpha is no joke.

Neither is being the second in command…

No, it’s not, and I’ll always be grateful and proud that Lidon chose me as his beta, his second in command. It’s easy now to say that I was and am the best man for that job, but when he picked me, I wasn’t the most logical choice. By all accounts, he should’ve picked Bray or Grayson or even Enar, and he didn’t. His faith and trust in me meant the world to me then, and they still do now.

What does the future hold for the Hayes Pack?

[his eyes grow dreamy] Peace. Love. Lots of babies. Just…happiness. We fucking earned it.

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Interview with Judah Simons

I’m so excited to have an actual celebrity to interview this week. Judah Simons made headlines when he became a contestant on The Right Note, the reality singing competition. With his gritty voice and his good looks, he became an overnight sensation. That only intensified once the news broke that he and fellow contestant Denver Emerson were an item. They both made it to the finals, and the duet they sang together in the finals made TV history. Judah, thanks so much for sitting down with me.

It’s my pleasure, Nora. Denver and I are still grateful for the amazing way you wrote our story in Out to Win

It was a joy to write, let me assure you. So how have you guys been?

Good. Really, really good. Denver’s career has taken off big time, and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s currently on tour, filling concert halls and stadiums all on his own. It’s the most amazing experience to be there with him and watch all these people call out his name, cheer for him, love him. He’s living his dream, and I’m so grateful I get to be a part of it.

I would say you’re part of that dream as well.

[smiles] I know, and that’s still the biggest miracle of all. Every time I wake up before him, and I see him in my arms, in our bed, it hits me all over again that I’m the luckiest man on the planet. Loving him, being allowed to be there for him and taking care of him is such a privilege.

Spoken like a man in love.

[laughs] What gave it away?

In other words, you two are still nauseatingly happy, as Tim would say.

We are…and he has no right to talk because he and Nathan were pretty lovey-dovey as well the last time we saw them. Mr. Tough Guy wasn’t so tough anymore, let me tell you. Watching Tim smile that much was a little disconcerting.

Your career didn’t take off the way Denver’s did. Is that ever a source of conflict for you? Of jealousy?

Honestly? No. I know my voice is good, and I play guitar pretty well, but I’m not in Denver’s league. His voice is so special and his range is just…phenomenal. Every time I think he couldn’t possibly surprise me anymore with what he can do with his voice, he proves me wrong. Plus, he’s a fantastic song writer, and by now, he writes most of his songs himself.

On his latest album, you guys cowrote multiple songs as well.

Yes, that’s a new thing we started to do, and I love it. It happened spontaneously originally, me strumming my guitar, working on a melody, and Denver found these words that fit perfectly, and that’s how Never Leave You was born. Ever since, we try to write together at least a few hours each week, but we keep it very relaxed and fun. Sometimes, we’ll end up with a great song, other times with a meh one, and sometimes we get…distracted.

I bet you do.

[grins] It’s all about priorities.

That last album of his also contained one song that you wrote on your own, called Papa. It became a huge hit for him. Why didn’t you record that yourself?

[sighs] I couldn’t sing it. I still can’t. It’s this desperate plea from a grown man for his father to accept him the way he is, and it hits way too close to home for me. I haven’t spoken to my father since the day I left home, and it still hurts. I know he’ll never change, that he’ll never embrace me the way I am, but hope springs eternal. Writing that song broke me, though in hindsight, it was highly therapeutic, but I can’t imagine singing it. Besides, I wrote it for Denver with some notes few other men could hit. His falsetto is so beautiful that I had to let it shine.

I’m sorry, Judah. I had hoped for you that your father would mellow and seek reconciliation.

[firmly shakes his head] He never will. It’s not in his character, but it’s also not in his interpretation of his religion. To him, G*d is a god who demands strict obedience. A judging god, a vengeful one who only accepts perfection. And in my father’s eyes, being gay is about the biggest sin there is. Me, I see G*d much more as a loving god, one who understands that as humans we are fallible, that we make mistakes, but who loves us anyway. And I believe He made us the way we are…and that he made me gay. It’s not a choice. It’s who I am. And when I see how much Denver and I love each other, I find it impossible to accept G*d would have an issue with that.

Are you still religious?

I wasn’t for a long time, but I recently found a liberal shul that I love attending. The rabbi is a woman, and she teaches a vision of G*d that I can believe in, a god who accepts and forgives, a god of unconditional love. That, I want to believe in. I’m very grateful to be a part of that community since being Jewish is such a big part of my identity. Multiple gay and lesbian couples attend, and it’s the most wonderful, accepting community.

What does the future hold for you both?

In the short term, it will hold a wedding. Denver and I are getting married in a few weeks, and I can’t wait. After that… We’ve talked about having kids, and I think a few years from now, we’ll be ready for that. I’d love to foster down the line as well. So many LGBT+ kids are out on the streets because their parents kicked them out, and that’s unacceptable. We’d love to offer a home to those we can take in and show them what love looks like.

From what I understand, you and Denver have quietly been supporting several LGBT+ organizations, like the Trevor Project and Human Rights Campaign.

[nods] We have. This is not something we usually talk about publicly because we both feel charity is best done behind the screens. We’re in the privileged position that we can easily spare the money, and so we both feel we have a moral obligation to support where we can. But bragging about that is tacky. We want to donate because we feel we should, not because it gives us recognition or some crap.

I think that’s admirable. One more thing I was wondering: how’s Denver doing emotionally and in terms of mental health?

Much, much better. We’re both in therapy, individual and together. Obviously, we both brought baggage and trauma into this relationship, and therapy has helped us find healthy ways to cope with that. Denver is benefitting from techniques he’s learned to deal with his PTSD. The shibari we do together helps him as well, since it’s such a moment of mental peace for him. And we’re learning to communicate and talk, which is definitely my weak point. The culture I grew up in was not one where talking about your feelings was encouraged or valued, so I’ve had to learn to overcome that and tell Denver how I feel. It’s a work in progress, but we’re both reaping the benefits already. We’ve grown even closer and stronger, and it’s only deepened our love.

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Update on Foreign Translations

If you prefer to read my books in a different language than English, I may have great news for you. I’m working on getting my books translated into several languages, and over the course of this year, I will have a LOT of foreign books coming out. Let’s tackle them by language, shall we?

German

Right now, I have two completed series available in German (Indys Männer and Mein Daddy Dom, which are the No Shame series and Perfect Hands, respectively). I also have one stand alone, Mein Professor Daddy (Professor Daddy). But I have a lot more coming up. Keep in mind that I use different translators, so I may release multiple series and standalones at the same time.

First up is the Irresistible Omegas series, called Das Hayes Rudel in German. The first two books are already on preorder and will release March 20 and March 27: Lidons Angebot (Alpha’s Sacrifice) and Enars Unterordnung (Alpha’s Submission). This series is being translated by Chris McHart, who also did the Mein Daddy Dom series, and the goal is to release the whole series this year.

Coming Out on Top will be released soon as well, since I’ve received that translation from a different translator and it’s ready to go. That will probably be early April. I don’t have the German title yet.

Captain Silver Fox, Out to Win, and Ranger are being translated in the next few weeks. Those are all with different translators, and each of those is new to me, so I’m excited to see how they’ll do. If they do well, we’ll have the Ballsy Boys translated into German, and I’ll do my Ignite series and White House Men series as well. My goal is to have my whole backlist out in German by the end of the year and then keep up with what I release in English.

French

Last week, Rebel (Ballsy Boys book one) released in French through a publisher. They will be doing that whole series, but that will take a while.

I’ve also sold the rights to the Ignite series to a French publisher, but that was two years ago, and I haven’t heard anything yet, so I need to see if they’re actually going to translate and release it.

I have contracted several translators for the first books in several of my own series, including the Irresistible Omegas, the White House Men, and the Perfect Hands series. I’m also having Out to Win translated. These are all new translators to work with, but if they do well, they’ll be doing that whole series. I’m really excited to enter the French market and see how my books will do there.

Italian

Next up is Italian. Right now, I have one Italian translation available thought a publisher, the translation of Out to Win/The Time of my Life.

I’ve contracted several translators, who have started on the first book in the Irresistible Omegas series, the White House Men, and the Perfect Hands series. I’m also having Coming Out on Top, Captain Silver Fox, and Professor Daddy translated, as well as Ranger. I’m hoping these translations will all turn out great so these translators can do those whole series.

Spanish

I released my first Spanish translation today: Con Mano Firme, the translation of Firm Hand. This is a new experiment for me, so I’ll have to see the sales numbers and decide if it’s financially viable to translate more. My goal is to release at least one more this year.

Dutch

Considering Dutch is my mother tongue, I’ve started translating Professor Daddy into Dutch myself to see how that will do. The Netherlands (and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) is a new market for me, and I have no idea if it will be a viable one, but I’m excited to try. The plan is to release at least two Dutch translations this year.

As you can see, I’m pretty ambitious in my translation plans, but I’m so excited to find new readers in other languages for my books!

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First Teaser of No Surrender

I showed you guys the amazing cover for my upcoming release, No Surrender, and today, I’m excited to offer you the first teaser. Unless you’re one of my patrons on Patreon, of course, since they’re already a couple of chapters in. But if you’re not, you’re about to discover who will star in this book… You already know about Wander, the super hot security guy from No Angel. But who will be his love interest?

Boy, have I found the right guy for him. He’s stubborn, proud, he’s a worthy opponent for Wander, and he won’t make things easy for him.

Any ideas yet?

Let me spill the news…

Remember Burke Kent, Blake and Brad’s brother? The a*shole who was rude to Aaron and then took off, only to show up unannounced at Thanksgiving? Yes, him. Don’t you agree he’d be perfect for Wander?

There’s only one problem…he’s straight.

Oh, and there’s the small detail that he’s training to become a Dom.

Plus, he doesn’t really like Wander.

See? I told you he’d be perfect…LOL.

Let’s have a glimpse of one of their first encounters! (by the way, because of censoring bots, I do have to censor certain words. I apologize, but I’m being careful here…)

 

Teaser from No Surrender

Burke raised an eyebrow. “I can’t say that I’m overly interested in your opinions. I’ll talk to you when I’m damn well ready, and for now, you and I are going to find a quiet spot and chat. Am I making myself clear?”

The expression flashed over Burke’s face so quickly, Wander almost missed it. The defiance Burke’s face was showing now was expected, but that glimpse of his first, instinctive response to Wander’s stern tone wasn’t. He’d reacted to it, strongly in fact, but then he caught himself and had morphed into the expected reaction. Why? What had he felt initially? He’d have to pay attention to this.

“Yes, crystal clear.”

Burke’s tone was clipped, barely civil, but Wander would fight that battle a different day. “Good. Let’s go.”

He led the way to a quiet corner of the club, where he found an empty table. One of the servers already rushed over before they were even seated, her face showing her eagerness to please them. “Master Wander, it’s a pleasure to serve you. What can I get for you and your guest?”

Wander blessed his phenomenal memory for names. “Cynthia, aren’t you looking lovely tonight?”

He gestured at her leather bustier, tightened in a way that made her full breasts all but spill out. A pair of indecently tight and short leather hot pants complemented her look, accessorized by high, bad ass boots. If he wasn’t so completely gay, her round, voluptuous figure would definitely appeal to him, radiating femininity.

Cynthia beamed. “Thank you, Master.”

Wander gestured at Burke. “Cynthia, this is Burke, a Dom in training. You can call him sir. Burke, this is the lovely Cynthia. If you ever want your c*ck squeezed between a pair of perfect breasts until you come all over her face, she’s your girl. Or so I’ve been told.”

He winked at Cynthia, who giggled, then nodded at Burke. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. Can I get you both anything to drink?”

“Water for me, sweetheart,” Wander said, and Burke ordered the same.

“What did you want to talk about?” Burke asked as soon as Cynthia had hurried off.

“Good god, boy, haven’t you ever heard of chit chat? You know, making casual conversation?”

Burke shifted in his seat. “Of course I have. But I figured you had better things to do than spending time with me, so why not get to the point?”

“Because I’m in charge here, not you? That’s just the first of many reasons, but that one alone should do the job, so let’s not even mention the others.”

Burke crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. “If that’s how you want to play it. Fine. How was your day?”

Oh, for the love of… If he hadn’t been a fellow Dom, Wander would’ve thought him bratty, and that remark would certainly have warranted punishment. A good spanking would cure him right of the notion that he could say shit like that to Wander. Sadly, that wasn’t an option, but holy hell, his fingers itched. But he’d better not show Burke he’d gotten to him. That was not the kind of power Wander wanted to give him. So he’d ignore the little barb.

Tell me you don’t want to read how this ends, haha. I’m having so much fun with these two!

The post First Teaser of No Surrender appeared first on Nora Phoenix.

Interview with Fox de Vries aka Captain Silver Fox

This week, my guest is the one and only Captain Silver Fox, though he’s not really fond of that nickname. His real name is Fokke de Vries, which is a really Dutch name, but since no one could pronounce it (and when they did, it sounded like they dropped the F-bomb…), he changed it to Fox. As he got a little older and became the captain of a cruise ship, the nickname Captain Silver Fox was born… This silver fox only has eyes for one man though, his younger lover Brantley. I’m excited to hear all about their lives…

Thanks so much for sitting down with me, Fox. Or should I call you Fokke?

[laughs] At least you know how to pronounce it, Nora, considering you’re Dutch yourself.

I am, so I might as well take advantage. Has Brantley learned some Dutch yet?

He has, but you and I both know it’s a difficult language to learn. My parents’ English is limited though, so he’s working hard on at least understanding some basic Dutch, and I love him for it. He has the cutest accent, and of course, he hasn’t yet mastered the Dutch rolling -r or the harsh -g sound we make.

Just tell him to make it sound like he’s choking. That should do it.

I told him exactly that! [laughs] He had raw herring for the first time a few weeks ago, and the sound he made when that taste hit his throat was pretty close. You should have seen his face. I damn near died laughing.

It’s certainly an acquired taste. 

It is, and I warned him, but he really wanted to try it. So we went to the harbor in Scheveningen, near The Hague, and got some fresh caught ones. They’re amazing, but not for him, apparently. Luckily, there’s been enough Dutch food that he did love. So far, bitterballen are his favorite.

[Note from Nora: if you want to know what bitterballen are, check out this recipe…]

Let’s go back a little in time. What did you think of him the first time you saw him?

That he was one sexy guy…and that I probably didn’t stand a chance, considering the number of men surrounding him. I was looking for a last hook up. As a captain, I work a ten weeks on, ten weeks off schedule. Since I’ve always been strict about not sleeping with passengers or coworkers, that meant no sex for ten weeks. So before my rotation started, I’d always score some hook ups, and that’s what I was doing. But he had all these pretty men around him, all younger than me, and I figured I didn’t have a shot. He’s like that…magnetic. People naturally gravitate toward him. He has this energy, this zest for life, and it makes people want to be in his presence.

But in the end, you were the one who went home with him…

I was. Well, to my hotel room anyway. We bonded after doing CPR on a guy and we both felt that strong connection. Our chemistry was off the charts, and that first night was…memorable. I’d never had a hook up that good, where the sex was that easy and effortless…and hot.

And then reality hit.

[groans] When I discovered he was one of my new crew members… I was genuinely upset. A ship is a tough hierarchy to explain to others, but the bottomline is that everyone on that ship is under my command. They may work for the cruise line, but once on board, they fall under my authority. And in all my years of doing this, I’ve never, ever made an exception to my rule of not sleeping with crew or passengers. And then Brantley came, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stay away from him.

But in the end, love won.

It did, but it didn’t come easy…and our relationship is pretty unique in the sense that we don’t see each other for ten weeks and then get to spend the next ten weeks together.

You’ve never considered asking for Brantley to be transferred to your ship?

[sighs] Considered? Yes. But I haven’t done it. Of course I would love to have him by my side. In the beginning, that was impossible. The cruise line would’ve never allowed it because our relationship was so new…and maybe a little because we’re both men. But by now, they know it’s real. In fact…in a few week’s time, Brantley Phipps will become Brantley Phipps de Vries…

Oh my god, you guys are getting married?

[holds out his hand, which shows a lovely ring with a small blue stone in it] We sure are. In The Netherlands, surrounded by all our friends and family. I proposed a few months ago, simply because I didn’t want to wait any longer with making him officially mine. I’ve never been that super-possessive alpha-type guy, but I will admit that I had this deep urge to claim him publicly.

Congratulations! I’m so happy for you guys…and that ring is so pretty!

Thank you. I picked it because it’s the color of the ocean… And I hope that once we’re married, the cruise line will allow him to transfer to my ship so we can sail together. Brody, my first officer, thinks it shouldn’t be an issue with my years of service, and I hope he’s right. But if not, we’ll survive as well. The one benefit of not seeing each other for that long is that our reunions are always sweet…

I bet. What did your family say?

They all love him. he’s easy to love anyway, but they see how good we are for each other. I’ll admit that my parents had hoped I’d retire from cruising and move back to the Netherlands, but I don’t ever see that happening. The moving back, I mean.

You don’t miss it?

Holland? No. I miss the people, like my parents and my family, but even that has become a small group. I’ve been gone for so long by now that I don’t have friends left there. They’ve all moved on, and that’s understandable. And I miss the food. Every time we go back for a week or two, I binge on all my Dutch favorites. Pancakes, poffertjes, dutch fries with mayo, frikadellen, you name it. Not exactly refined cuisine, but so good. But I don’t miss the country itself. It’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but it’s become too small for me. I’m too used to the wide open spaces of the US now, especially where Brantley and I live, in Maine. When I spend too much time in Holland, I feel suffocated, like I can’t breathe anymore… It will always have a special place in my heart, but it’s not my home anymore. That’s with Brantley.

The post Interview with Fox de Vries aka Captain Silver Fox appeared first on Nora Phoenix.

Cover and Title Reveal

Wander’s story is finally coming. Remember him? He’s the security guy who protected Indy and his men in No Angel, the fifth book in the No Shame Series. We got to know Wander a little there and we learned he’s a voyeur who likes to watch people. One of the things he tells Miles in No Angel is that he wants what they have: a house filled with likeminded people where they can explore kink. Yup, he’s a kinky guy, our Wander.

Many of you kept asking for his story, and I’m so excited to announce it’s finally coming! Wander’s story will be called No Surrender, and it’ll be hot and kinky and all kinds of emotional and messed up just like the No Shame series. His book will be the first in a new contemporary series called No Regrets Series, which is kind of a spin off from the No Shame series but can be read on its own. Lots of heat and kink in this one, but also found family, true love, and all the feels.

Cover Reveal

And now, let’s have a look at the amazing cover, made by Vicki Brostenianc.

Tell me that guy isn’t hot AF… I’ve been sitting on the picture for the cover for a looooooong time because Vicki Brostenianc, my PA and designer, had already found it for me when I was still writing No Angel. You’ll notice this is exactly as I described Wander… And now we finally get to use it, woot!

I don;t have a release date yet, but I’ve been working hard on this book. I’m about 30k in now, so we’ll see when I can get it done. But I hope you guys are as excited as I am about No Surrender!

The post Cover and Title Reveal appeared first on Nora Phoenix.

Coming Soon: the Irresistible Omegas in German

I’ll do the intro of this post in English, so everyone understands what I’m talking about, and then I’ll switch to German. I’m excited to announce that the Irresistible Omegas series is being translated into German. The first two books are now up on preorder: Lidons Angebot (Alpha’s Sacrifice) will release March 20, and book two, Enars Unterordnung (Alpha’s Submission) a week later, on March 27. The rest of the series will be released as quickly as my translator can get them done!

Kommt Bald: Das Hayes Rudel

Ich freue mich so, dass die Irresistible Omegas bald auf Deutsch erhältlich sein werden. Das Hayes Rudel wird diese Reihe heissen, und die erste zwei Bücher sind schon hochgeladen auf Amazon und können vorbestellt werden. Diese Reihe ist eine Mpreg Geschichte, und die erste zwei Bücher sind MMMM und alle andere MMM.

In Lidons Angebot fängt die ganze Geschichte an und wir begegnen die vier Männer die am Zentrum stehen:

Lidon, der mächtige Alpha-Polizist, der einem verletzlichen Omega durch seine Hitze hilft und sich mit ihm auf eine Weise verbindet, die ihm den Verstand raubt.

Vieno, der Omega, dessen medizinische Kondition die Hilfe eines Alphas erfordert. Eigentlich sollte es nur Sex sein, aber die Verbindung zu dem Alpha geht sofort viel tiefer.

Enar, der Alpha-Doktor, der sich abrackert und alles tut, um seine inneren Stimmen zu übertönen, die ihn anschreien, dass er kein echter Alpha ist.

Palani, der freche Beta-Reporter, der alles tun würde, um seinen Omega-Liebhaber und Freund aus Kindertagen zu retten, selbst wenn das bedeutet, dass er zusehen muss, wie ein anderer Mann ihn zum Gefährten nimmt.

Inmitten von politischen Unruhen, Beweisen für Korruption und Betrug und einem lebensbedrohlichen medizinischen Problem, finden vier Männer heraus, was und wer sie füreinander sind.

Die Geschichte geht weiter in Enars Unterordnung und danach gibt’s noch acht Bücher. Diese Männer sind mir so nah ans Herz, wie Freunde, Familien. Ich hoffe, ihr allen wird diese Reihe genau so lieben wie ich…und wie meine Englischsprachige Leser! Lidons Angebot kommt am 20. März und Enars Unterornung eine Woche später am 27. März. Die ganze Reihe wird dieses Jahr publiziert werden.

The post Coming Soon: the Irresistible Omegas in German appeared first on Nora Phoenix.