Ethan Day's Blog, page 7

March 20, 2011

It won't be there much longer…

Time is running out for your opportunity to read Sno Ho for FREE!! It's been the Free Book of the Week at MLR Press over the past week, but it won't be available for too much longer!

Click the link below and head over to MLR Press, then right click the Sno Ho cover in the top right hand corner of the page to be transported to Summit City…then sit back and enjoy the fireworks!

Blurb:

Boone Daniels seems to have trouble finishing things. Along with the half dozen or so novels he's started, only to abandon mid-way through, his love life could be best described as a series of drive-by's.

Boone has spent the past week staying at a ski-lodge in the tiny mountain town of Summit City. He's been using his time alone to write while waiting for his boyfriend to join him for their anniversary.

What happens to Boone when he winds up dumped on the eve of his one-year anniversary and ends up at a bar having one too many cocktails? Wade Walker

Click Here to visit MLR Press!

View more on Ethan Day's website »

3 likes · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 20, 2011 00:03

March 13, 2011

Anything for You is Now Available!!!

ISBN# 978-1-60820-312-3 (ebook) $5.99

Release Date – March 2011

Cover Artist – Deana C. Jamroz

ebook: 106 pages – 35,000 word count

Available At: MLRBooks (ebook)

Jason Miller is still in the closet. He's never found a reason to kick the door open, walk into the light of day, and tell the world he's gay. At least that's what he keeps telling himself — along with a multitude of other solid arguments. As an ad man, he's used to hawking a bill of goods, he just never imagined he'd fall victim to his own hype.

When ex-activist/coming out guru, Chad Wellington came along, he was the one thing Jason never saw coming. Like a moth to a flame these two opposites ignite leaving Jason to decide if he can handle the heat.

Excerpt:

As the two of us walked through the front door, I could smell a unique blend of Thai spices wafting out from the kitchen mixed with the faint aroma of the expensive leather coming from the living room furniture.

"They're here!" Trent ran over with a cocktail in hand.

He looked a little too monochromatic with his light brown hair, brown corduroy pants, and a cream-colored silk shirt.

I shook my head disapprovingly. That boy will wear silk with anything. You're supposed to be trying that whole nice thing, remember asshole? I reminded myself.

I glanced down, taking a second to concentrate on the warm hues of the slate tile under my feet. I threw on a forced smile, trying to ignore the fact it felt fake as all hell, before meeting Trent's gaze. He had that judgy little smirk, like he could see right through me.

Screw it, no one can hear my thoughts anyway… The mere fact I actually have friends is proof of that.

The longer he dated my best friend, the more irritating Trent became to me. Like one of those commercials made more annoying thanks to the cheesy theme song that gets stuck in your head. Even though you hate the commercial, you end up singing along with it anyway.

His blue eyes were a little too blue. I suspected colored lenses, though he denied it. I was totally jealous of his perfect eyebrows. They had that slight Jack Nicholson arch—not too bushy, not too thin. I knew he plucked, but he vehemently denied that, too.

"Here, drink this quick," Trent said, thrusting a martini glass at me.

"What?" I asked, beginning to laugh.

"Come on, suck it down," Trent said. "They don't call you Cumbalina for nothing."

I decided to let that bit of snark go and took the glass from him. I hadn't planned to begin anesthetizing myself until well after dinner; that would've been rude. My momma raised me right! Even so, I complied joyfully, wondering what I'd done to get so lucky, as I sucked down the delicious appletini.

"Okay, why the rush to get me drunk?" I asked, handing the now empty glass back to Trent. "I've already told you I'm not going to be your houseboy."

"Oh sweetie…you should be so lucky," he said. "No babe, I invited an old friend of mine from college along for the weekend. His name is Chad and I thought the two of you would be perfect for each other. Knowing you the way I do, I thought you'd take the news better after a nice, cool cocktail."

"Oh shit," I said. "Please tell me you didn't bring me up here for a blind date?"

"He could." Brent shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. "But he'd be totally lying."

"And Chad is totally hot." Trent gave me his evil eye. "You'd better be nice to him!" He turned to Brent. "He's been so cranky lately."

Brent shook his head at his boyfriend. "Did you really think one cocktail would have any effect? He's like one step away from needing twelve."

"Excuse me!" I smacked Brent in the stomach, hard enough to make him cough.

"Of course not, honey," Trent said, rolling his eyes. "That's why I crushed up one of my Valiums and mixed it in with his drink."

"You did what?" Brent's eyes widened. "You should have checked with me first. He can't take Valium. He has an allergic reaction—it makes him stupid."

"Good Christ!" I reached out to rest my hand on the wall as if it were the only thing holding me upright. "I haven't been in the damn door five minutes and you've ambushed me with a sacrificial man and poisoned me! Why not give me ecstasy? I'd be nice and randy for just about anyone!"

"Well how the fuck was I supposed to know?" Trent shrugged, looking at Brent and completely ignoring me. "If he weren't such a goddamn freak, I wouldn't have had to drug the son of a bitch in the first place."

"Hey!" I scowled at Trent and then shoved him. "Giving me a friggin' poisoned apple—what are you, my wicked stepmother!?!"

Trent reached over and shoved me back. "I know, go stick your finger down your throat."

"Hey, what's going on?" a voice called out from the living room.

The three of us stood up straight, eyes wide like three deer in the forest that just sniffed out a mountain lion. Rick and Jim were standing in the kitchen entryway, peeking around the corner at us, laughing hysterically. Chad turned red, obviously realizing he'd walked in on something.

"Oh…um." Trent held out his hand for Chad. "I'd like you to meet Brent's best friend, Jason."

Chad and his enormous blue eyes made their way over to us. He had sandy brown hair that was slightly disheveled and too long, but in that intentional way. Judging by what I could see of it, he also had a fan-freakin'tastic body to boot. His voice was deep, kind of Clooney, and I knew instantly if I ever heard it in the dark, I'd do whatever it commanded. He wore rumpled khaki cargos, brown leather sandals, and a wife beater.

I could feel that I was grinning like a newly crowned Miss America, but I couldn't manage to control myself. "It's very nice to meet you."

Chad took a few steps toward the three of us and gently wrapped my hand up in both of his. I sort of chuckled like a goofy teenager for a moment before correcting myself and butching things back up.

"I've heard so much about you." I directed a nasty glare at Trent.

"It's nice to meet you as well." Chad smiled like he had a secret. "Did I interrupt something here?"

"Oh no," Brent jumped in, "I was just telling Trent that Jason is super wiped out. Work was hell for the boy this week. He's exhausted, could barely keep his eyes open on the drive up."

"Yes," Trent said, "and I promised to get some food in him and send him directly to bed."

"Trent," Jim called out from the kitchen, "don't forget Chad and Jason are sharing a room, remember? The other two spares are still torn up—mid-renovation and all."

"I hope that's okay?" Chad asked. "I'm afraid I may have invited myself last minute."

Great, I thought, no telling what he'll hear coming out of my mouth throughout the night.

"Of course I don't mind, I mean we're all adults here. Well maybe not all of us." I glared once more at Trent who sneered back at me this time. "I just hope I don't keep you awake with all my snoring." Look at it this way, the drugs will keep me from being a slut, at least for the first night.

"I'd certainly hate for it to be your snoring that kept me awake all night as well." Chad smiled.

Buy Link

View more on Ethan Day's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 13, 2011 18:18

March 12, 2011

Gay Day is Back!!!

Sunday, March 13th is Gay Day at my Yahoo Group. Gay Day is the one day a month when the best authors in GLBT Romance stop by to post excerpts of their new and upcoming releases.

The following authors will be generously offering giveaways you can enter to win:

Clare London – The Tourist

Stevie Woods – Death's Desire

Joyee Flynn – Tristan & Victor

Trina Lane – In Dreams He Came

J.P. Bowie – Blood Lure & A Portrait of Phillip

Ethan Day – Anything for You – Available March 13th from MLR Press

Z.A. Maxfield – Winners Choice from Backlist

P.A. Brown – Winners Choice from Backlist

Serena Yates – Understanding Mark

The amazing Authors below will be popping in and out to chat & post excerpts from their latest books:

Serena Yates – Rediscovering Adrian & Finding Elliot

Stevie Woods – Sacrifices & A Favor for a Friend

Lynn Lorenz – Rougaroux Social Club: Bayou Dreams & Remember Me

Jon Wilson – A Hundred Little Lies

Adrianne Brennan – Pisces

Z.A. Maxfield – The Pharaoh's Concubine

P.A. Brown – Bermuda Heat

The day will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST in the Ethan Day Yahoo Group where we'll be posting excerpts, running contests for free books, and chatting about all the new and upcoming releases from your favorite authors.

I hope everyone will stop by to catch up with your favorite authors and join in all the fun!

View more on Ethan Day's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 12, 2011 21:57

February 28, 2011

Ethan Day Interviews P.A. Brown about L.A. Boneyard

Today we're talking to P.A. Brown, author of the L.A. Series including L.A. Heat, L.A. Mischief, L.A. Boneyard – the book we're discussing today, & L.A. Bytes among many other works of fab fiction. While I'm certainly not a mystery aficionado, I was so impressed after reading Heat that I promptly went out and purchased the rest in the series. I have yet to be disappointed. : )

Ethan: Before we dig into Boneyard specifically, I wanted to touch on the origins a little bit. One thing I love about these books is the way you've blended the police procedural & crime-mystery elements so seamlessly with the gay love story of two unlikely protagonists. I mean, these are guys – even had they both been out of the closet you wouldn't ever imagine would click, at least not outside of a fantasy fulfilling one-nighter on both their parts. But even from the very beginning of Heat, when Laine is investigating Chris as a murder suspect, there's something there between them. At least I felt it. So give us the what, where, and how, PA. Where did it all come from?

P.A.: David had his genesis in Jonathan Kellerman. I was a huge fan of his Alex Delaware books, and especially was drawn to his openly gay cop, Milo Sturgis. I wanted to write a book with the cop as the main character instead of being a side kick. I also wanted him to be gay. But one of the things I loved about Milo was he didn't fit the stereotype of the gay man – buff, obsessed with youth, clothes and being in the A list. I'd spent too much time in West Hollywood to accept that view of gay men. But I wanted to take it a step further. Originally, David was going to be even less attractive than he is, but that eluded me, or maybe people really can see an ordinary guy with pockmarked skin and a bit of a belly who loves American beer and baseball as sexy. Chris obviously can. Also, unlike Milo, he wouldn't be comfortable with his sexuality. He didn't deny it, he just kept it from the people around him. His family knew, but not many other people, especially not the cops he worked with. And he had a doozy of a partner – homophobic Martinez. Actually not really homophobic so much as he didn't like anyone all that much. He's one of those equal opportunity bigots.

And of course once I'd decided on a cop, I had to put him in L.A. The city fit him and he fit the city. Plus the fact that I just couldn't forget the place, even though I'd been gone from it for nearly two decades by that time. So he was cast as an LAPD homicide detective.

Once he existed, he had to have an opposite. That person would be the epitome of that 'ideal' gay man. Beautiful, out and proud, a guy who loved living, who had expensive tastes and had the money to afford the things he liked. The computer angle came about because that was what I did. Besides, in all my time reading mysteries, I had never seen a computer geek as a main character. And I personally knew some damn good looking IT guys. Thus Chris was born. Originally, I was going to put him in a house in the Hollywood Hills, but that seemed too clichéd. Everybody in crime fiction seemed to live up there, so I looked around for another place and I remembered Silverlake. When I started researching it, I knew it was perfect for those two.

Ethan: One aspect I've found particularly interesting about David's character, who even after four years with Chris still wrestles with his own sexuality, is that one of the things he takes the most pleasure in with regard to Chris – his pretty boy looks – is oddly also one of the things he's most embarrassed about when it comes to his professional life. I think it's a very subtle way of showing that part of him still longs to be closeted. That despite the happiness he's found, he still wishes he could go back to being one of the many as opposed to the shiniest penny in the box. It leaves me wanting to slap the SOB while liking him a little more because he's so genuinely flawed. How did this guy come to you and have you been surprised at all by any aspect of the evolution of this character?

P.A.: Yes, he's grown a lot from what I originally saw him as. You're right, in some ways he's still not totally comfortable with everyone knowing he's gay. He doesn't want to be known as the gay cop. He sees himself as a damn good homicide detective who just happens to be gay. But he also knows being out limits him. Before his life changed and he fell in love with Chris, he could have aspired to be a homicide special detective working the Robbery Homicide Division, the elite LAPD officers who are recognized as the best of the best. But his love for Chris makes up for it, and there are still times he will look at Chris and be amazed that this man loves him so whole-heartedly. Without reservations. Which of course makes him feel guilty for those occasional times he slips and wishes he was back in the safety of his closet. That inner conflict is always there.

Ethan: One of the other really smart things I think you've accomplished in this series is setting up Chris as an actual equal to David. He's obviously very different, doesn't mince words nor does he care who knows he's gay. Chris makes no apologies for who he is now or who he's screwed in the past. But he's also, something else that I think is crucial for David – Chris is incredibly competent at what he does. David is a great detective, probably one of the best in his field and I believe it's the mutual respect and admiration that ties Chris is the same in his line of work that makes these guys stick. That this respect is the foundation for their relationship which everything else is built upon. Of course this is merely my impression of things. Tell us what you think binds them both to one another despite all the odds which seem forever stacked against them.

P.A.: I think it is the fact that they are equals in their respective jobs. He's a good cop, and he knows that and Chris knows it too. He respects what David does, even though he's sometimes uneasy about David's safety. Chris also knows he's the top of his field. It's not braggadocio, he works very hard to stay on top. What they really have is a mutual respect beyond their relationship. They're friends as well as lovers, which I think is one of the keys to a strong, long term relationship.

Ethan: The addition of Jairo to this already set and solidified cast of characters was both inspired as well as a bit of a shock. He wound up having a large role and effectively stirred things up quite nicely. I found myself constantly wavering on whether or not I liked him, which I don't think is an easy feat for an author, so kudos to you! I felt sorry for him one minute, hating him the next before finally wanting to sleep with him after another turn of the page. You kept me on a constant loop with this guy. Talk to us a little about where he came from. How did his role in the book develop and did he change on you once the writing began?

P.A.: Jairo had that affect on a lot of people. I even got an angry email from someone before the book was even released about him. I had posted a blurb about the threat to Chris and David's relationship from David's new partner. I got chewed a new one for even hinting David would be unfaithful. LOL. Originally the affair was going to go further, but I realized that wouldn't be acceptable and might alienate his fans. Bad enough he went as far as he did. But I share your wavering. I loved the guy, thought he was hot, but I seriously wanted to smack him, too – and David. I mean the guy was deceitful to everyone, even worse than David had ever been in his closet. At least David never chose marriage to hide his identity. He was too honorable. Jairo had no honor. But he sure was a sexy devil.

Ethan: I still have yet to read L.A. Bytes, but I'm greedy…so I have to ask. Any plans in the works for another book in this series? If so…let me just add that it's totally okay to tease the animals in this joint.

P.A.: There are at least 2 more coming out. Bermuda Heat should be released February and the following one probably early next year. Right now I'm calling that L.A. Storm, and may bring back Jairo's family to bring yet more trouble. I'm planning a trip to Los Angeles in April of this year to do a lot more research. The idea for it is still nebulous, but I think it will deal with bank robberies. Los Angeles is the bank robbery capital of the world so there will be no shortage of ideas to play with. After book six, I'm not sure what will happen.

Click Here to Purchase Your Copy

BLURB:

A letter. A secret. A tragedy. David's mother told him his father died when he was born. His mother lied.

David Eric Laine always believed his father had died in Vietnam before his birth. His mother remarried and he was adopted by his stepfather and grew up knowing Graham Laine as his only father. Forty years later, a letter arrives and David finds out everything he thought was a lie.

EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Saturday, 9:20 am, Rigali Avenue, Atwater Village, Los Angeles

The brown Ford squealed when it failed to take the corner at sixty. Instead it threw up streamers of dust as it bounced across a gravel verge into an empty parking lot. Martinez cursed as his partner, LAPD homicide detective David Eric Laine took the same path, their unmarked Crown Vic blowing out whatever shocks might have been left in the aged vehicle when they screeched onto the lot after the fleeing Ford. Martinez reported their twenty and called for backup, then hung on as David maneuvered ever closer to the other car's rusted out bumper.

David ignored everything but the Ford and the two Pinoy boys they'd been closing in on for days. Since somebody stomped a Temple Street Trese boy to death and put all the Asians on edge, ready to stomp back, it was paramount they be stopped. David and Martinez were working with the local gang cops to try to stop it before it got bloody.

They'd spotted Sokun, the leader of the Pinoy's at a liquor store on Brunswick five minutes ago, the chase had been on. David figured they would try and double back, make a break for Rigali. But then a whoop and a new cloud of dust announced their backup had arrived. A black and white roared in, lights and siren on full code three.

What Sokun did next startled David. Instead of braking and coming around, the brown piece of crap's laboring engine roared, tires spat gravel and the car lunged forward. The fence protecting this section of concrete river was old and worn through years of neglect and abuse. Twisted by the elements and vandals, repaired repeatedlly, it inclined at a fifty degree angle, sagging as though tired of trying to hold out the world.

The Ford slammed into it at a good twenty miles per and snapped off the single metal pole pole, puncturing the radiator and killing the engine. There was a tortured shriek of metal on metal, sparks flew from underneath the battered vehicle. The engine rattled to a stop.

Both doors flew open. Sokun and his passenger bailed. The passenger, who David hadn't been able to ID, headed north. Sokun scrambled over the battered remnants of fence and vanished over the lip of the cement trough.

"Oh, tell me he did not just do that," David muttered.

Martinez growled what might have been a reply before he too was out the door and hot on the trail of the passenger, along with a young, female uni. David bolted after Sokun. The other uni followed.

David always figured he was in shape. He ran nearly every day with Sergeant, the Doberman he and Chris had adopted three years ago. Legs pumping, he slowed only long enough to clamber over the chain link and he was off, half skidding, half running down the angled concrete wall, avoiding chunks of broken wall, hot on Sokun's ass.

It was long after the last winter rain. The bed of the river was little more than a few scummy patches of rainbow hued water and scattered weeds that had broken through the concrete and clung to life amid the detritus of a city. He dodged a shopping cart, abandoned with a broken front wheel. A black garbage bag split open, spilled its reeking contents down the slope. A pair of fat gulls took flight when Sokun raced toward them. They squawked and protested as they flew south toward the distant smog-shrouded basin.

Ahead of him and losing ground fast, Sokun clearly didn't do any recreational running. He stumbled over broken concrete and his leather loafers were not designed for top speed flight. David closed the distance between them. Behind him the uni was gaining ground.

"Stop, asshole!"

Not surprisingly, the asshole in questions ignored his orders.

David came up on Sokun's left side. The Cambodian gang leader threw one wild-eyed look over his shoulder and tried to dodge right. David body checked him and the two of them went down. An elbow caught David's chin and he kneed Sokun's kidney, missed and caught him square in the groin. The younger man folded with a groan and rolled onto his side, holding his bruised crotch in both hands. At least until David wrenched them behind him and cuffed him. The uniformed cop arrived seconds later and stood over the downed pair, one hand on his duty weapon, his other on his baton.

David sat on his haunches, his butt resting against Sokun's legs. His arms over his knees, panting as he stared across at the graffiti tagged wall on the other side of the river.

"I'm getting too old for this," he muttered as Martinez appeared at the top of the concrete wall, his own prisoner looking as worse for the wear as David felt.

The uni pulled Sokun to his feet as David rose and dusted his linen pants off. "Get him out of here," he said and climbed up to join Martinez. He watched the two uniformed officers, one who barely looked old enough to be out of middle school lead their prisoner away and shook his head.

Sokun cursed in Cambodian and English.

"Either they're getting younger or I'm getting old."

Martinez clapped him on the back. "It ain't us, ese."

"God, I hope not." David scrubbed his hand through his shaggy hair. Together they trudged back to their Crown. He threw a glance back at the Ford, doors still open, water leaking out from underneath.

Martinez grunted as he eyed the messed up Ford. "Well, look at it this way. At least the asshole didn't try to make a run for it down there in that." He stared balefully down the concrete slope. "That would have been a real circus."

"More like the Indy 500. Better call a tow truck." David shook his head and did his best not to think about it. "Get a warrant for that thing, too."

He put his hand on the still warm hood of their city-owned junk heap. He climbed in behind the wheel. "Might be time to trade this thing in, too. Call the motor pool. See if we can't get this one put out to pasture." He slotted the key in and fired it up. It grunted but fired on the first try. Barely. He met his partner's gaze. "Ever think it might be time to hang it up yourself?"

"What? And give up all the excitement? Not to mention the respect and love we get."

"You left out the fabulous pay check."

"I guess I did kind of forget that. Come on. Let's go down and book these mutts. At least earn some of those big bucks."

A second black and white rolled onto the lot and Sokun was loaded into it. The two shops rolled back out onto Rigali, followed by David and his grinning partner.

"Another fine day on the force."

"Hey," Martinez said. "We'll look back on this someday and remember all the fun we had."

Click Here to Purchase Your Copy

View more on Ethan Day's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 28, 2011 15:38

February 27, 2011

GayRomLit's Reader Registration

Registration will open tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm CST, that's 5 pm Eastern & 2 pm Pacific. I believe that will make it 9 am in Sydney, 10 pm in London, & 11pm in Italy.

The Events page should already be live, so people can go over and check out what we have planned and peruse the schedule. http://gayromlit.com/events.php

We're looking forward to seeing everyone down in New Orleans come October!!!

View more on Ethan Day's website »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 27, 2011 02:27

February 14, 2011

Ethan Day Interviews J.P. Bowie about Nowhere to Hide

With an impressive backlist to his credit, and the author of several incredible series, including My Vampire and I, and Nick Fallon to name a few, there's no shortage of gay fiction with the name J.P. Bowie on the cover. His novel, Time After Time, was my first foray into his work, having become one of my favorite books of 2010. One of my cohorts organizing the upcoming 2011 GayRomLit Retreat in New Orleans, JP can also be found as the sexy voice behind the audio books available at MLR Press. : ) He was kind enough to spend a little time satisfying my curiosity by answering some probing questions about his latest book, Nowhere to Hide, available now at Total E-Bound.

Ethan: The choices an author makes are somewhat of a fascination of mine, forever wondering about the why of it all. When you planning and plotting your latest book, Nowhere to Hide, what made you decide to set this romance against the back drop of Darfur, a region filled with such unbelievable turmoil, strife, and sadness?

JP: I'm a great admirer of Doctors Without Borders. These men and women go to the most godforsaken parts of the world and do amazing work, despite sometimes having to dodge bullets and bombs from the very people they are trying to help. I wanted to, in some small way, using Mark's dedication to his work and patients as a kind of token of my respect for those doctors. Doctors Who Care International, the organization I invented for the book is a reflection of DWB. Most of their work is done in regions like Darfur where death and suffering is an ongoing problem.

Ethan: Expounding on that topic a little more, living where we do it's difficult to imagine a parent willingly parting with a child, let alone selling one for money. What was it about Ghali that made him so important to this story and to our hero's?

JP: In some parts of the world children (and women) are treated heinously. Obviously in a war-torn country, without law and order, children are very often the first to be victimized. Ghali represents those children. Actually, he was supposed to be a minor character in the story, but as it progressed, his voice grew stronger, letting me know he had to be an integral part of Mark and Jack's story. I think maybe the softie in me had to ensure Ghali was protected and cared for, and who better to do just that than Mark and Jack?

Ethan: You touched on this topic briefly, gays in the military, and I wondered if in your research you'd found a different mind-set from our friend's Down Under than what see here in the good ole USA? I wondered simply because Mark seemed to be the only one of them that worried much about the consequences while Jack was business as usual. It was apparent he never wanted to flaunt it, but at the same time Jack doesn't hide anything either. It does feel at times that the US, who's supposed to be the great and shining beacon of freedom and democracy, seems to be falling behind the times when it comes to issues of equality, so I was curious if this approach to these two characters had been intentional for that reason.

JP: Gays have served in the Australian military since 1992! The US and Turkey are the only two NATO countries that still uphold the ban—or I should say the US upheld the ban until very recently. So yes, when Mark wonders about Jack's situation as a gay man in the military I was making a point. That brave and honorable men and women who want to serve in the military should be able to do so without fear of debasement or physical harm. Jack, for me, and I hope for the readers, represents that kind of man who inspires confidence and respect among those he leads. Of course, he's also the kind of guy that if anyone got in his face about his sexual orientation, he'd just lay them out.

Ethan: Jumping onto the topic of Jack, who is obviously the kinda guy we'd all want by our side when in a pickle – a slight understatement for Mark nearly being sold into slavery, I know. : ) Obviously, he's a very heroic guy, but I found myself wondering if Jack hadn't kept himself so busy all these years because he never found anyone he wanted to settle down with as he says, or if perhaps there might have been a little part of him that never stopped because he was subconsciously trying to avoid falling? The fact that he meets the good Doctor the way he does, it was certainly chance or perhaps even fate – but he definitely wasn't looking. Do you feel like he was really running until, or was there perhaps a part of him running away?

JP: Jack's been in the army most of his life, and I think he comes across as a man totally in love with what he does, and dedicated to the safety of the men under his command. He's a straight-ahead man, no frills, no fancy talk, but despite the death and destruction he's witnessed in Iraq and Somalia, he's still an optimist, with a goal of one day, owning a horse station in Australia. Romance wasn't part of the equation as far as he was concerned, and that's when fate stepped in, as it sometimes does, to give him, perhaps, a shot at something more than he had dreamed of. I don't think he was running away, or ruling out the possibility that one day he'd meet his mate. It just wasn't uppermost in his mind, until he met Mark.

Ethan: And Mark turned to be quite the surprise for me in the book. From the beginning of the story, I would have never guessed Doctor Mark would have hailed from the background in which he did. From privileged society drop-out to Darfur, he is quite the changed man – which I would venture to guess was no easy feat to overcome. The fact that he decided to go back to the refugee camp after his first brush with disaster, it really did feel as though Mark had something to prove – to himself maybe more than anyone else. With regard to themes, was redemption as important to you as the author as it was to his character?

JP: You're right. Mark is a more complex character than he seems at first. When Jack asks him if his being in Darfur is a form of punishment, he almost nails it. Mark sees it as more of a form of penance for the time he had wasted in a life of drugs and booze, the wakeup call finally coming when he reached bottom. His determination to do something worthwhile was his motivation for joining Doctors Who Care International. Mark's the kind of man who wants to see things through—for example, he was willing to wait it out until the authorities finally built the hospital they had promised for the refugees. After his first run in with the slave traders, and against Jack's advice, his decision to return to the refugee camp, may appear foolhardy, but it's important to him because he feels he owes it to the people, to accomplish what he'd set out to do. I'm not sure a longing for redemption is his driving force, more a stubbornness to see the job done, even though he knows dealing with the Somalian authorities is near impossible.

Ethan: Thanks again for spending a little time with me and thank you for letting me read, Nowhere to Hide. It was most definitely an afternoon well spent. : )

JP: Thanks for having me.

Click Here To Purchase Your Copy

Blurb:

An American doctor meets an Australian soldier in the wilderness of Darfur, and soon their passion burns hotter than the desert sun.

Doctor Mark Hamilton working for Doctors Who Care International and stationed at a refugee clinic in Darfur, never thought he'd meet and fall in love with someone like Sergeant Major Jack 'Boomer' Caruthers in the middle of the strife torn territory—nor could he ever imagine being sold as a sex slave to an exiled Prince!

Fortunately for Mark, it's Jack to the rescue. The two men make a daring escape into the desert and are picked up by Jack's team, but Mark ignores Jack's warning not to return to the clinic, with dire results.

Once again made captive by the slave traders, Mark can only cling to the hope that Jack's love for him is strong enough to face the dangers he will encounter in the vast deserts of Somalia.

Excerpt from Nowhere to Hide:

"Nice place you got here." Jack's lips twisted wryly as he looked around the small tent. Because of his height, he was forced to duck his head to avoid bumping it on the canvas roof.

"Have a seat." Mark indicated one of the two camp stools. "It'll be more comfortable." The stools, along with a narrow bed, a box full of books, a radio, and a rack from which hung Mark's clothes, was all the tent could hold.

"How long you been living like this?" Jack asked, watching Mark pour them both a drink into plastic cups.

"Three months and two days." Mark handed the Aussie one of the plastic cups filled with Scotch, and sat down on the other stool. "They keep telling me it's temporary, but so far I haven't seen any sign of the promised permanent hospital. I know this is only a refugee camp clinic, but half the time, I feel like I'm the forgotten man. Cheers." He touched his cup to Jack's and smiled. "I'm glad you're here—I mean, I'm sorry for the reasons, but it's kinda nice to have good company."

"Cheers, mate." Jack threw the Scotch back in one long swallow, then grinned at Mark. "Good stuff." His piercing blue-eyed gaze swept over Mark, taking in the fine-boned, almost delicate planes of the young doctor's face, the shock of blond hair that fell disarmingly over his forehead, and the striking green of his eyes.

What a corker this bloke is, he thought. A beautiful man, maybe too beautiful for his own good around these parts. His cock swelled inside his shorts as his gaze fell on Mark's lush lower lip. I'm going to taste that mouth before I leave this tent…

"Like another?" Mark asked.

"Uh…yeah. Good on you." He watched, his lips parting in a silent gasp of lust as Mark bent to pick up the Scotch bottle, his shorts tightening across the curved swell of his butt. That is one beautiful bum…

"So, why do the men call you Boomer?"Mark refilled Jack's cup.

"Uh…oh, well, it's a bit of long story…"

"I've got time." He glanced at his watch. "Just have to check in with Asima before lights-out." He smiled. "I know, you're an explosives expert."

"Not exactly." Jack gulped his Scotch.

"Well, what exactly? There must be a reason for a nickname like Boomer."

"Well…uh…it's m' feet, if you must know."

"Your feet?" Mark chuckled as the sergeant's handsome face slowly filled with colour.

"Yeah, well…" He stretched out his long sun-darkened legs and both men looked down at the feet in question. "Boomer's the name we give kangaroos. They've got big feet and, well mine…they're big, y'see…"

"Yeah," Mark murmured, "they sure are." And not the only things, he thought, his gaze travelling back up Jack's legs to the bulge in his shorts. He reached for the Scotch bottle and refilled the sergeant's empty cup.

Jack gave him a lopsided grin. "You trying to get me drunk?"

"Do I have to?"

Jack grabbed the front of Mark's shirt, pulling him in close until their mouths were a fraction apart, then he said, "No," and planted a forceful kiss on Mark's lips.

Startled, Mark gasped into Jack's mouth, but as the heat of the other man's lips seared his, Mark opened to him. Every nerve ending in Mark's body responded to the sensuous sensation of the other man's tongue as it swept inside Mark's mouth, finding and caressing each and every part of his moist warmth. He wound an arm around Jack's neck and held him, returning his kiss with a fierceness that surprised himself, his free hand sliding under Jack's shirt, stroking his muscled torso, bringing soft moans of pleasure from both men.

Mark pulled back slightly and smiled into Jack's blue eyes. "I think I've found another reason for your nickname."

"Oh yeah?" Jack's breath warmed Mark's lips. "What's that?"

Mark chuckled softly. "You make my heart go boom, Boomer."

"Smart one, ain't ya?" He toppled Mark over onto the floor and lay on top of him, grinding his bulging crotch into Mark's. "What else?"

Mark stared up at the bigger man with lust and longing. "I think you could ream my ass any time you want."

Click Here To Purchase Your Copy

View more on Ethan Day's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 14, 2011 15:41

February 11, 2011

My Valentine's Day Post

Good morning everyone! Today, my holiday post, titled My Slutty Valentine – A Singles Guide to Survival, is up at Jessewave's. Just in time for the holiday weekend! I know…a giant sigh of relief was shared by all. : )

I'm off to work, but I'll be checking in early this afternoon when I get off…from work!! Dirty minds!!

A great day to one and all!

Click here to be redirected to Jessewaves.

View more on Ethan Day's website »

2 likes · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 11, 2011 11:51

February 6, 2011

Just in time for Valentines Day…

I've been hard at work on my Valentines Day post for Jessewave's coming up on Friday. I found this little gem whilst pissing away time on You Tube. Of course I'm now totally hooked and want more. Anyone know anything about starting up one of those grass-roots letter writing campaigns?

Anyway, I think the theme here fits in nicely as a pre-curser of things to come on Friday so I wanted to share. Plus it made me laugh, which as most of you already know, is about all it takes to win me over. Yep folks…I'm really that easy. : )

If you like this you should totally check out this guys website: http://www.derryproducts.com/ The voiceover track alone is worth a listen. Plus you'll find other examples of his work. I think his name is Michael…but it doesn't actually say on his bio. His cartooned-likeness is totally hot though. I think it's turned me into a Toonie!?!

Without further ado…the very funny Troy…

You can find the You Tube Profile Page here: http://www.youtube.com/user/troytooner

I also found a Troy Comic's Site and a Facebook Page!

http://troycomics.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Troy-Comics/151811768198197?v=wall

I hope you can all stop by Wave's on Friday!

View more on Ethan Day's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on February 06, 2011 17:11

January 31, 2011

Ethan Day Interviews Lynn Lorenz about Edward Unconditionally

The author behind today's 5.4.8×5 interview is none other than Lynn Lorenz. My first foray into her work was Edward Unconditionally and while she's written many other truly wonderful stories, this one still holds a special place for me for reasons you'll discover during the interview. Not only is Lynn a gifted writer she's also a great friend, one who's help over the past few years has been both invaluable and very much appreciated. I'm not sure what I did in a past life to have stumbled across so many amazingly kind and generous writers, but I'm happy to say Lynn is one of them. So without further ado…

Ethan: In a sea of straight-acting gay men, who populate the terrain of Gay or M/M romance, you presented us with Edward in Edward Unconditionally, the third book in your Common Powers series. I even mentioned to you once that he reminded me of one of my best friends, which is part of what made this book work on so many levels for me. : ) What was it about this character that spoke to you as the author, where the hell did you find him, and what made you write his love story, well…unconditionally, for lack of a better term?

Lynn: I'd been writing a lot of "butch" guys, men who were closeted or because of where they lived, were outwardly seen as more straight than gay for self-preservation. Edward had been dancing around in my back brain, doing a bold and sassy cha-cha with lots of booty shakin', and I couldn't resist him. Well, who can resist a man in chocolate brown leather fringe? I hadn't read very many stories with such an openly gay character, and I worried at first that readers wouldn't like him. I worried that my publisher would publish the story with a non-butch hero. But I found that of all my characters, Edward is the one that everyone asks about. He's endearing, vulnerable, smart, and smart-mouthed, and although he's been a little beaten down by life, his bad choices and his family, he doesn't let that stop him. He's at a point in his life where it's time to take things seriously, or be doomed to repeat the same mistakes, and he's determined to change his ways because he wants more.

Ethan: He is a really great character, Lynn. He definitely has a spirit that jumps right off the page. How do you feel Edwards's special gift of being able to figure out and fix what's wrong with everyone but himself affect the person he'd become as the book began? I found myself wondering if that would be stressful for him, to always be able to give of himself, yet never be the recipient of that gift. Did that factor into your development of his character at all?

Lynn: For Edward, the ability to heal was just one of the many facets of his life he'd never taken seriously. It was there, and he used it, but never really thought of it as a gift, more like a pain in the ass, since he couldn't use it on himself. Edward was floating through his life without a guiding wind. As with most people, it took a wake-up call to open his eyes to what he is truly capable of, how strong he can really be, and how remarkable a person he is. It was part of his character's arc – going from cha-cha-ing through life, to having to make some hard choices, that brings Edward to a new place, a place where he can finally be Edward, Unconditionally.

Ethan: I think every author has that moment, when a reader or reviewer gleans some aspect from your book that you never consciously set out to include when you were writing the story. Has there been anything about Edward Unconditionally that came as a shock to you after the fact – perhaps a characterization revelation or unintended plot point?

Lynn: Not that I can think of. But it's been a while since I wrote Edward, and there might have been something then that I can't remember. I do remember one poster saying that the stuff with his grandmother was slow and thinking, "I think she's missed the point." Another person complained about the lack of sex and the length of time it took for Jack and Edward to "get it on."

I did that intentionally, building sexual tension can be as exquisite as the act, making it that much sweeter when it does happen. My books don't tend to be filled with pages and pages of sex, but with Edward, Unconditionally, the lack of sex didn't hurt it at all. In fact, I think most of the readers appreciated the slow burning build up. I hope they did at least.

Ethan: Here, here! LOL! I'm a great lover of sexual tension. The sex is always good, but the build-up can make it out of this world.

Edwards best friend, the very opinionated bulldog, Winston played an integral role in bringing his owner and Chief of Police, Jack Whittaker together. Was that the intention from the very beginning or did that idea come to you as the story progressed? I only ask since love-by-dog-attack isn't one of the go-to meet-cutes one automatically thinks of when beginning a love story. : )

Lynn: I wanted an opening that would set the tone of the story, and show, in one scene, who Edward was and who Jack was, and Winston was the dog for the job. I love quirky situations, mixing it up, and it could have been a routine traffic stop, but I twisted it a bit. Also, Edward needed a best friend, and everyone knows "a boy and his dog" is one of the closest friendships there is. To Edward, Winston is the one being who has accepted Edward for who he is, loves him completely, and Edward loves Winston right back with the same acceptance. Finding a person to love him the same way was what Edward needed.

Ethan: Aside from the entitlement that comes from his upbringing, in spite of the fact he falls on, what some might deem the more fem side with regard to his sexuality and despite his otherwise total lack of direction in life, Edward does have a strength about him that rivals Jack's more obvious style. It's a much more subtle type of strength, but where do you think that comes from and how important was that in your mind when it came to making this story and these characters mesh so well?

Lynn: Edward's strength comes from inside, that part of a person that whispers "get up, don't stay down." He's been knocked down hard in his life, but his spirit isn't damaged by it. He's still open to love, willing to chance it, ready to get up off the mat when he's been knocked on his ass, and try again. When he meets Jack, he sees the strength of control Jack has and when he lets himself gather his own control, he discovers what he's truly capable of.

Jack on the other hand, has had an equally hard life, but he's shut himself off from his emotions and from love, telling himself he doesn't need it. He's physically strong, and in complete control of his emotions and needs, until he meets Edward. Edward is the catalyst that opens Jack's heart and mind to a life he thought he couldn't have or didn't deserve.

Ethan: Thank you so much for stopping by and giving us a little insight into your writing process as well as a little background from this wonderful book. For the rest of you…please enjoy the excerpt below!!

Click Here To Purchase Your Copy

Blurb:

When Jack meets Edward at a traffic stop, his world is rocked — and not for the better. Edward is the gayest man he's ever seen, and Spring Lake is a small town just getting comfortable with its own new gay couple, Brian Russell and Rush Weston. Unlike Edward, Rush and Brian are big, strapping, manly men. But manly isn't what turns Jack on. It's Edward — everything about the younger man drives Jack wild with desire and the need to control Edward's wild, impetuous spirit.

For Edward, his attraction to "bad boys" has been his romantic downfall. His heart's been broken so many times he's lost count. When he meets Jack, Edward falls for the all-American by-the-book lawman, but finds his attempts rebuffed and his pride severely wounded. Jack's straight, or at least says he is, but Edward knows that look in Jack's eyes, he's seen it before from other men. How can a man so right be so wrong?

Edward tempts Jack beyond anyone he's ever met and his desire for Edward builds each time he encounters the younger man, until he can no longer deny it or himself. But Edward doesn't want sex on the side, he wants forever. He wants the fairy tale.

Can Jack give Edward what he wants or will Jack's fear of being ridiculed for his choice of a partner keep them from their Happily Ever After?

Excerpt from Edward, Unconditionally….

"Hell and damnation!" Edward flicked his gaze to the rearview mirror.

A large white car with blue and red flashing lights followed him, and he could hear the wail of a siren. For a moment, he thought about not stopping but decided Texas wasn't the place to try to elude the cops. Didn't they use cattle prods here?

"You don't think that's the welcoming committee, do you?"

Woof.

"I didn't think so." Edward slowed down and eased off the road as far as he could without going into a ditch big enough to eat a Buick.

He reached over, picked up his jacket, and fished out his wallet. Taking his proof of insurance and the registration papers from the glove box, he sat back and waited, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the wheel.

"You don't think Barney Fife was using gaydar, do you?" Edward chuckled as he watched the cop car pull behind him.

Winston scratched at the door.

"You need to go walksies, Winston?"

Woof.

Edward grabbed Winston's leash, dug under the red bandanna that decorated Winston's neck, and clipped the end to a leather collar. Getting out, Edward pulled on the leash, and Winston hopped down.

A deep, irritated voice came out of the air. "Driver. Get back in your vehicle."

Edward waved at the cop to let him know it was all right and walked around the car with Winston. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain, Winston," he intoned as the dog, head down, nose in action, sniffed his way along the grass at the side of the road.

"I said get back in your car. That's an order."

Good Lord, there was no need to get pissy about it.

Edward called over his shoulder as the dog pulled him farther away, "My ID is on the seat if you need it. I just need to walk my dog."

* * * * *

"No. No. No," Jack muttered. This was not happening to him. He'd given that guy a direct order, and he wasn't used to being disobeyed. Jack shook his head, and the motion started the pounding again.

"Fuck!" He opened the car door, got out, slid his hat on his head, and put his hand on the butt of his semiautomatic. There was no way in hell he was going to take this crap from some… He stopped, doing a double take at the young man and his dog.

"What the—" he muttered under his breath.

The man and the dog wore matching red bandannas tied around their necks. Jack blinked. The dog, one of those ugly-as-hell bulldogs, waddled down the side of the road. Immense balls swung with every step as he pulled his master after him like a cowboy holding on to a stubborn cow headed for the barn.

His owner wore the tightest dark blue jeans Jack had ever seen cover a man's behind. His ice blue shirt was Western cut, but the piping had brown leather fringe. At least, Jack thought it was leather.

"Oh my God." Jack held back a snicker. Was this guy for real?

Jack headed to the car, leaned over the door, and picked up the packet of papers.

"Get over here. Now," Jack ordered as he looked at each form. After checking the name, Jack tossed the registration on the seat. It matched the name on the insurance card, which he added to the pile.

He picked up the leather wallet. Soft, supple, it reeked of Italy and money. He had no idea how much it cost, but it was probably more than he'd spend on a good leather jacket. Looking up, he watched the driver approach and come around the car with the dog pulling hard on the leash and growling.

Jack looked at the dog and frowned, then up to the man's face. Early thirties, five feet ten inches, short black hair, and deep brown eyes that stopped Jack in his tracks.

The growling grew closer, louder, then white-hot pain erupted as the dog chomped down on Jack's ankle and shook his leg like a…well, like a dog with a bone.

"What the fuck!" Jack jumped back, dropped the wallet, and drew his weapon.

"No! Don't hurt Winston!" the guy yelled, lunged forward, and grabbed Jack's weapon arm.

Jack's mind screamed ambush, and his adrenaline kicked into overdrive. He hopped backward as he jerked his arm away from the man and tried to kick the dog off his leg at the same time. Everyone was growling, and everyone had a piece of him.

"Let go of me!" Jack shouted. "Stop it, or the gun might go off!"

"Don't shoot!" The man's grip tightened on his arm, now more frantic than before. Jack flexed his bicep and pulled the guy into him, his gun pointed at the sky.

Through gritted teeth, Jack said, "If you let me go right now and get this mutt off me, I won't shoot you both." They weren't quite chest to chest; the guy was shorter than Jack by a good four inches. Jack wanted to kill the son of a bitch right then and there. Then the damned dog.

"Promise?" Breathy and soft, that one word shivered down Jack's spine and held him in its grip.

"I promise." He had no idea why he was making promises to this man. He didn't have to promise a damn thing; he was the law.

The man let go and stepped away just as the dog shook Jack again, its massive head snapping from side to side. Jack hopped backward and his arms pinwheeled in the air. He lost his footing, went down on his side, hit his head on the ground, and a new wave of pain erupted as his elbow jammed down on the blacktop.

The gun went off.

The front tire on the car hissed and flattened.

Someone screamed.

The man grabbed the dog, cooed to it, and Jack felt the dog's teeth release his leg.

No one was going to believe this. Thank God his patrol car wasn't one of the ones that had the new dash video cameras and that this moment wouldn't be captured. And shared among all his men for them to laugh at him.

If it were up to him, no one would know about this either.

Standing over Jack with the dog in his arms, the man looked down at him. The bulldog's tongue licked around its mouth as if savoring the taste of Jack's flesh and blood, looking very pleased with itself.

From his spot on the ground, Jack said, "You're lucky I didn't shoot you."

He shoved his gun back into the holster and pushed himself up to sitting. After pulling up his leg, he rolled up his cuff, pushed down his black sock, and examined the bite. Two puncture wounds just above his ankle leaked blood, his pants were shredded, and his dignity was shot to hell.

Would it be murder? First degree or manslaughter? How much time would he have to do?

"I'm going to have to impound your dog. He doesn't have a tag." Jack grabbed his hat and shoved it back on.

"You can't do that!" The man clutched his dog to him and stepped back. "Winston can't go to jail."

"Yes, I can. I'm the fucking chief of police. I can do anything I fucking want to. And if you give me any more lip, I'll toss you in a cell and throw away the fucking key." Jack pushed to his feet. "Now, put the dog back in your car."

Finally, the guy did what Jack told him to do. The dog hopped in, and as the man shut the Miata's door, he murmured to the dog, "Stay right there, Winston."

Woof.

Jack glared at the dog, then said, "Now, hands on the car and spread your legs."

"What?"

Jack grabbed the man's arm and spun him around. "I said, spread your legs," he growled as a flash of power and control shot through his body. Uh-uh. Not good.

"But I hardly know you. I'm really not that kind of guy," he drawled over his shoulder.

As the bulldog kept his eyes on Jack, probably looking for a chance to bite again, Jack slid his hands over the guy's back, hips, and down his legs, lingering on firm muscles, absorbing the heat of the younger man's body. "Anything you want to declare?"

"Just my sexuality, Officer."

"That's chief of police." Unfortunately, he was clean. Jack had hoped he'd find something on the dude, just to add to the list of charges. "Put your hands behind your back." Jack pulled out his cuffs.

"What?"

"I said, 'Put your hands behind your back.'"

"Am I under arrest?" This time the younger man did as he was told. Jack slapped the handcuffs over his wrists and then walked him by the arm over to his patrol car.

"This is for your protection and mine. I'll take them off if everything checks out."

"Promise?"

Jack caught a flicker of fear in his brown eyes; then it was gone. Jack didn't answer. Instead, he said, "Stay here; don't move." Jack leaned him against the bumper.

Sliding behind the wheel, he picked up the radio and took a deep breath. The man had made him so mad Jack had lost his professionalism, lost his control, and had cursed. Not cool.

Christ, Jack had been so rattled, he hadn't followed procedure. For all Jack knew, he could be wanted in three states. That shirt alone should get the guy arrested.

He stole a look at his prisoner, decided it was time to pull himself together and act like the cop he was, put down the mic, and got out of the car. He strode over to the Miata and picked up the driver's license and wallet lying on the ground, then gathered up the other papers.

Jack stared at it. "Edward Paul Beauregard the Third? Are you joking?"

"No." The man stood straighter.

"The Third?" Who puts that on their license? Senior, junior, maybe, but the little III behind the name seemed so pretentious.

"Yes. I'm Edward Beauregard, of the Atlanta Beauregards," he drawled, as if it should mean something to Jack.

"Well, Mr. Beauregard, I'm going to call in your license and see if you need to be sitting in the back with that crazed mutt of yours." Sitting in the car again, he picked up the mic and read off the numbers to his dispatcher. If it came back positive, he'd put the guy in the back of the car. With his damn dog.

"He's not a crazed mutt. He's registered." Beauregard tilted his nose upward.

"Registered as a lethal weapon?"

"Lethal weapon. Cute. I had no idea sheriffs were so funny."

Jack let the sheriff comment slide. "Does he always attack people?"

The man looked Jack up and down, then purred, "Like me, I guess he can't resist a man in uniform."

Click Here To Purchase Your Copy

View more on Ethan Day's website »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 31, 2011 16:02

January 29, 2011

January's Gay Day is Here!!!

Sunday, January 30th is Gay Day at my Yahoo Group. Gay Day is the one day a month when the best authors in GLBT Romance stop by to post excerpts of their new and upcoming releases.