Ethan Day's Blog, page 8

Ahh memories…

 

The things they never tell ya before becoming an author…for instance, that some people may not like what you have to offer, lol. Shocking, I know! : )  As I'm currently working on the sequel to Self Preservation I thought I may as well re-issue my Norma Rae-like rant – defending poor Davis in all his desperate, panicked glory.

Thank goodness I never followed through on my threat to insert the random 'crying character' into all my books though, huh? Well…at least not yet.

 

 

The Crying Gayme

I was a little shocked recently to discover some sort of issue had popped up from a few folks in regards to the gay character in my gay novel doing a little too much crying.  At first I thought this was a joke, and I became paranoid as I searched frantically for the hidden camera in my office.  When it became all too apparent that this was seriously an issue, it got me wondering…am I to be considered less of a man, despite the genitalia that suggests otherwise, should I choose to cry?  Does crying make me a pansy boy?  This wasn't the worst of it, though.  Apparently, the crying man is almost as bad as…hold your breath folks…A WOMAN!! As if being a woman is the worst thing ever!!  On behalf of my sisters and gal pals, I'm officially offended for you.  Seriously…I totally just had a sympathy menstrual cramp.

This has to be the single most ludicrous thing I've ever heard!  I'm sorry…but when were magically transported back to the 1950′s and why the hell didn't I get the memo? *Paging Tab Hunter to my boudoir!!* What…as long as I'm here I may as well make the best of it! : )

I hate to break it to you people, from-the-land-of-no-crying, but some of us do leak when faced with desperation and strong emotions.  If you honestly feel like a man who cries is weak, or less masculine than one who doesn't?  Let's just say I'm thankful I don't live in your world! 

It takes a hell of a lot more strength and courage to allow other people to see the real you…ugly crying jag and all, then it does to never let anyone see past the mask.

For me personally, I'm not an equal opportunity weeper.  I can't let myself loose it if anyone else in the vicinity is already crying.  Before you begin to admire all the butchie strength-in-a-crisis qualities I have…I should probably confess to the near melt-down I suffered when they canceled Gilmore Girls.  My point – you don't have to be one or the other. 

I know for a fact I would never berate a man-friend (gay or straight) who had multiple melt-downs once he discovered his first and only love was going to marry someone else.  What's he supposed to do in this situation…scratch his balls and grunt a few times before spitting out his chewing tobacco?

The thing I loved most once I accepted the fact that I was gay – I was no longer bound by the heterosexual model of male behavior.  No more pretending to like sports!!!  Hooray!!!!  If I wanna slap on a wig and heels while doing a Cha Cha down the boulevard…I can!  If I wanna have an all day Doris Day movie marathon…I can! If I wanna crawl up into a sling and let another man do deliciously naughty things to me…I can! And if I wanna cry afterwards, out of either joy or shame, I sure as fuck will.  I may even scratch my balls and grunt a few times in the process! : )   

I may not be able to marry the person I choose to spend the rest of my life with…but I'll be damned to hell and back before I let anyone make me feel bad for crying about that fact.  You can't take that away from me – it's mine and I'm going to keep it.  I'm half tempted to throw in completely unnecessary crying into every single book at this point just to irritate the cold-cruel-dead-inside-meanies out there.  I'll create one no-name character who'll be in every book.  I'll have him periodically walk down the street bawling for no apparent reason.  That'll learn ya!!  LOL

Maybe I do like to play football on the weekends, or maybe I just like to sit on the sidelines and watch, or drool as the case may be.  Neither way is WRONG or BAD!  And shame on anyone who says anything differently. 

I guess at the end of the day, my message is this:  This is my gay party and I'll cry if I want to! 

Much Love

Ethan

Ethan Day interviews Z.A. Maxfield about The Pharaoh's Concubine

She had me at hello…literally. ; ) From the very first moment we met, the subject of today's 5.4.8×5 interview, offered me friendship and support. Never asking for a thing in return – it was just a simple act of kindness that meant a whole lot, even to the loud-mouthed, new kid on the block.

Her work seems to know no limits when it comes to stepping across the sub-genre lines of manly romance. While equally comfortable guiding us through the seriousness life sometimes leaves at our door as she is navigating her way around the light-hearted comedy found in something as simple as a family dinner…one thing stays true…with Z.A. Maxfield the love always comes through.

Ethan: Let me first say how much I truly enjoyed your new book, The Pharaohs Concubine – now available from Samhain Publishing. Between the title and your description of the book to me when we were first discussing it – prior to my reading it – I found myself mightily confused. Knowing you as I do, I should have trusted you'd knock this one right out of the park the way you have every other book of yours I've read. That being said, I simply HAD to ask. Where in the hell did you come up with the idea of mixing a Russian crime lord, an ex-Mormon, and a reluctant gang-banger? Again, don't get me wrong, Z – you blended them all beautifully. But I'll admit to initially wondering if you'd been smoking some of that wacky weed out there in Cali, LOL! So, how did this character combo come to you, and were you scratching your head in the beginning as well, or were you able to visualize the possibilities from the get go?

ZAM: When I begin a novel, it almost always begins with a specific scene, so I had in my mind the first chapter. I don't think I'm giving spoilers if I reveal that Dylan Anderson, the well cared for lover of Yvgeny Mosko, crime lord, is leaving from the VIP exit of a spa when he's the victim of an attempted kidnapping.

Given that, I began to ask myself about Dylan. What kind of man would be happy with a life where he's second fiddle to an official wife and family? What kind of man can ignore the moral implications of spending money made largely from crime? How did he get there, is he attached to it, or has he shut off his emotions and his innate morality and if so, why?

And then of course with regard to William Escobar, Memo, I planned a character who, like many young men I come into contact with every day, are shunted by family ties and expectation, peer pressure, economic woes, sheer alienation, and loneliness into gangs. While it's easy to paint the picture of Crime Lord, Mormon, Gangster, I hope (I believe it fervently or this wouldn't be seeing the light of day) that I've transcended stereotypes, at least a little, to tell their story.

Oddly enough, when push came to shove, and I was writing PC, the chasm between Mormon and gangster filled up with family ties, loyalty, tradition, and peer pressure until it started to look like they had at least a little common ground.

Ethan: Most definitely, that was a nice surprise to find, because initially it was difficult to wrap my brain around. I was asking myself, how is she going to bring these two together? It was nicely done in the book and the beautiful underlying message, that despite their backgrounds, two people who are different in so many ways can still be the same at their core – after stripping away all the protective layers we learn to cover up with as we grow up and move into adulthood.

ZAM: I sometimes think that we all want basically the same things, a sense of self worth, a physically comfortable life, and companionship. Those layers we put on can keep us from finding what we need, and sometimes stripping them off makes things simpler.

Ethan: Dylan's character was the driving force of this novel, for me. It was his journey that I found myself completely invested within. Despite having lived the bulk of his adult life looking out at the world from the perceived safety of his gilded cage, Dylan seemed to be coolly detached from reality…even once he's no longer protected by that cage. How much of this did you think was naturally inherent in his character vs. an aspect of conditioning, due to his upbringing and events in his past?

ZAM: I felt from the very first that Dylan was deeply damaged by being pruned from the family tree. Rootless, isolated, I thought it would have been very easy for him to allow an older man's kindness to lure him into that cage. I also believe he felt grateful, and valued, and cared for very much by his lover, but I think it might not have been possible for him to form true attachments to either people or things. He'd lost everything in the blink of an eye because of a fundamental truth about himself he refused to alter, hide, or ignore. I think it would be hard to believe in anything after that. I saw him as detached for his sanity's sake. Ready to roll with the punches.

Ethan: As a side note to Dylan's character, while I've certainly drawn my own conclusions, I wondered why you felt he would have ever agreed to become the kept boy of such a powerfully frightening man such as Mosko? I certainly never got the impression it had anything to do with the financial side of things – though he certainly enjoyed the trappings – but I don't feel as though he truly missed that. Do you think he was merely trying to find shelter from the world at large, feared he didn't deserve anything more out of life, or was it something else entirely?

ZAM: Dylan is pretty obtuse about his own worth. He has those values, still, instilled in him by his family and his church. He's more about what he can offer in the form of service or hard work, not what he's intrinsically worth.

He's drawn to the warmth of Mosko's kindness; if Mosko had been a homeless guy living in a box, I think Dylan would have been equally attracted. I tried to portray Dylan as someone who, after leaving his family, drifted until someone wanted him and took him in. I think mostly, until the end of the book, Dylan allows people to come and go, and he tries not to get his hopes up or his emotions involved. He tries to provide service, because he doesn't imagine anyone would want him for himself.

Ethan: Pretty sad the way sometimes the very people who are supposed to love and support you the most wind up being the ones that do the most damage. There is definitely a sort of inherent sadness to him. But there's no wallowing or self pity about him, like I said, he's a very interesting character.

Since there are so many different ways a writer can go about telling the same story, I've always been fascinated by the choices an author makes when it comes to the voice or voices they use to narrate a tale. After reading Concubine, it seemed as if most roads led back to one character, Dylan. That's not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoy William and Desiree and what their perspective brought to book, but it did have me wondering what made you decide to open this story up to multiple POV's? Was it merely the default choice that you prefer to work within, or was there another reason – some aspect of the story you didn't feel you could otherwise tell had you been limited to one voice?

ZAM: I guess since part of the story hinges on how Dylan sees himself as opposed to how others see him, it seemed natural to view him through the eyes of those other characters. Plus, I really wanted to be inside William's head. I think William is a great guy. His strength and loyalty and viewpoint with regard to Dylan's family and the men in Dylan's life were important to the story. The change in POV was required because Dylan was an unreliable narrator. Due to his detachment and his inability to see his own worth, and due to his past, it takes both men's POVs for the reader to see clearly what Dylan cannot.

Ethan: Very good point, Z. I think all authors suffer the fear that wrong choices made with regard to labeling and marketing our goodies will wind up hurting the books we so lovingly spent all those hours perfecting – usually at the expense of some other aspect of our real lives. I found that I really enjoyed the title in conjunction with who Dylan was as the story opened up – how well it fit the book from beginning to end. That surprised me a bit considering all the other connotations that come with a title like The Pharaoh's Concubine, especially considering the fantasy based genre we work within, which includes historical and the supernatural. While we all know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover…or title…or blurb for that matter, we all do it. Were you at all worried about that when it came down to selecting the title?

ZAM: Oh heavens, YES! I opened up the discussion to others, authors and readers alike … Egads. After all, the book is about neither pharaohs nor concubines. I expect to get an angry letter or two from Egypt Exploration Society about that. I got lots of excellent suggestions but in the end when I put the question to Sasha Knight, my Samhain editor, and She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, she said she loved the title. So hey, who am I to quibble. She's the one who makes me look good, and she had her hands full with me on this one for some reason. It's a tough sell, the Mormon, gay, gangbanger, crime lord book. *rolls eyes* If you liked it, much credit goes to Sasha. If you didn't it's all mine…

Ethan: I'll give Sasha her due, especially considering this is the second interview I've done and her name has come up in both separate interviews. But I see your stamp all over this book too, Z. It's got your voice. : )

ZAM: Err, yeah, if by that you mean that my characters never shut the hell up. But yes, definitely, Sasha gets her due, she really is an outstanding editor, and this is our second book together. She's landed me like a big airplane on a small boat safely both times. GO Sasha! 

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Beauty is only skin deep…until love reveals what lies beneath.

As mob boss Yvgeny Mosko's open secret, Dylan Anderson is happy enough with a passionate, if loveless, arrangement that affords him a life of luxury. But at thirty-six, he wonders how committed Mosko will be to an aging lover.

He finds out when a rival gang kidnaps him in a turf war everyone's sure to lose. Mosko unleashes deadly force, leaving no one alive except for a young man whose dark eyes tug at Dylan's heart—and the conscience he thought he'd excised long ago.

Though he tried to stop the kidnapping, William "Memo" Escobar knows Mosko will use what's left of him to send a powerful message to his rivals. When Mosko's pampered pretty boy risks everything to help him escape, he can't believe his luck.

William figures he's better suited to life off the grid, but as the days go by he begins to realize Dylan's beauty is more than skin deep. And as Dylan coaxes more and more beguiling smiles from William, he yearns for things—like family ties—he'd thought were best forgotten.

Yet behind their newfound happiness lurks the certain knowledge that no matter how careful they are, Mosko will come for what's his.

 

Warning: This book contains a mob boss, a kept man, and a reluctant kidnapper who will never have to hear the words, "Size doesn't matter.

 

Excerpt:

Dylan's breath caught when he saw William's nude body, the skin of his bare back golden and glistening, inviting in the low light even if his abominable tattoos reminded Dylan of things he'd rather forget. Yves had a mural of colorful tattoos, quasi religious in nature, each facet symbolizing some part of his life in prison, his status among his men, his years in the mob, reworked and added onto with each new turn in the road his life had taken.

William's tats, with the exception of the enticing round one next to his cock, had been etched there as a beginning, the once upon a time of his story. Dylan didn't doubt he was meant to have become part of the inked résumé—as a victim, had their attempt to ransom him been successful. Yet he could no more stop staring than he could have stopped breathing.

If only he could remember how to breathe at all.

Everything had changed with that earlier embrace. Dylan saw William with new eyes, and he hadn't imagined William's appraisal of him at dinner or the subtle sensual challenge he saw there.

After a silent moment, William spoke. "I could use boots."

Dylan lifted his focus from William's chest to find him watching, his gaze cautious but maybe a little smug.

William waited. "Maybe a hat and some shades like yours? That would be cool."

Dylan's soggy jeans were half undone. They draped precariously low on his hips. William's gaze dropped to the line of pubic hair that showed above wet blue fabric. Dylan's cheeks flushed. Any slight shift and William would see the effect his presence was having on Dylan's body. Again.

Dylan grabbed up his towel and muttered, "Excuse me," before heading to the bathroom.

Well, shit. What was that all about? Dylan wanted him. Why did he keep running away?

William was too fucking sore, cold and tired to worry about it. Walking had sucked the energy right out of him. He felt a little sick, like the mountain air really didn't have enough oxygen in it for him to do more than lie on his bed and rest.

Going to dinner had tired him, even though it was fun and tasted as fine as anything he imagined he'd get in a fancy restaurant. He'd felt Dylan's eyes on him the entire time.

I want you.

Green light.

Maybe—finally—Dylan would stop treating him like he was some kid he had to watch out for until social services stepped in.

William grabbed a blanket and sat on one of the rockers in front of the fireplace. Curiosity kept him still, waiting. When Dylan returned from the bathroom, he wore the usual cool, distant expression on his face, even though he wasn't quite meeting William's eyes. He busied himself with building a fire while William watched and soon had a bright blaze glowing behind the fire screen.

"This ought to warm things up." Dylan pulled a blanket off his bed and sat in the rocker next to William.

"Thanks."

"I'm glad Ernesto put firewood in here. The wood out back is probably pretty damp. We have enough for tonight, anyway."

"I checked, there are more blankets in the cupboard next to the kitchenette."

"We won't freeze; there's a space heater."

"I guess I'm just not used to it."

"It can get pretty cold in Vegas at night. One time it even snowed. Nothing like here though."

"I saw that on the news. Snow in Vegas."

"That was pretty amazing. Yves and I were having breakfast and he just…"

William's curiosity got the better of him. "What did he do?"

Dylan smiled. "It's nothing. He and I were together and he left so he could go home and play in the snow with his grandkids. It was beautiful. So serene. I felt a little like playing in it myself."

"I can see that." William closed his eyes. It wasn't hard to picture Dylan looking through the window of his opulent house, a man who had everything except someone to play with him in the snow. William was so tired the heat from the fire pulled every last bit of strength from his body. No matter how much he wanted Dylan, he could hardly keep his eyes open. "I bet you do all that snow stuff."

"I ski and snowboard. Des is a maniac. She's completely fearless. She used to play ice hockey."

"I'm glad you can see her again. Sometimes I think…" He drifted into sleep, his rocker slowing to a bare back and forth, inches only.

Dylan's voice startled him. "William?"

"Hm?" He started rocking again.

"You were in the middle of a sentence."

When William opened his eyes, Dylan faced him, half illuminated by the fire, made up of reflected light and mysterious shadows, as enigmatic as the moon. "I was just saying I'm glad you have your sister back. Maybe when I'm thinking about you I can think of that and I won't feel so bad for what we did to you."

"You don't need to feel—" Dylan's voice stopped. "I can't say what you need to feel."

"I have to go and start over somewhere, and I'd like to know that you don't…that you won't be feeling responsible for me or some stupid shit like that."

Dylan's hand came down on William's so timidly he didn't move for fear that Dylan would snatch it away. "I wish I could give it all back to you. I've been trying to think of a way you could keep your college credits and maybe even renew your scholarship, but I can't think how to do that without risking your—"

"Shh. Don't worry." William turned his hand and carefully laced his tender fingers with Dylan's.

"But I do worry. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Look at you, going all concerned for me—like in that syndrome."

Dylan snorted. "Stockholm syndrome? Doesn't it sort of feel like you're my hostage now?"

William gave up a sad smile. Maybe he could be honest for once. Maybe it wouldn't get him in too much trouble to say what was on his mind.

In his heart.

He lifted his gaze and found Dylan watching him. "Papi, I've been your hostage since day one. Since the first time I saw you."

The grip on William's hand went slack.

"You don't seem to know it, but you're one very fine motherfucker, Dylan. My personal walking wet dream."

Dylan whispered, "How come you call me papi?"

William tilted his head. "I don't know. It's just a thing. Like when Esme calls you m'hijo."

Dylan didn't break eye contact. He held William's gaze for a long enough time that it made William want to look away, but he forced himself to meet those strange light eyes. What he found there was something pure and—probably—more honest than he was ready for. He didn't find acceptance, necessarily, but what he saw didn't cause him to lose hope, either.

"You should sack out, huh?" Dylan said quietly.

Disappointment flooded him. "Yeah." William got up and carried his blanket back to bed.

"Lots to do tomorrow." Dylan padded to his own bed. "Ernesto has a list a mile long and I'm not sure we can do half of the chores with the grounds so wet."

"There's new shit that will come up with the storm."

"Yeah. Maybe more roofs to check out."

"Night, Dylan." William turned his back and pulled his covers over his head.

"Night, William."

© Copyright 2011 Z.A. Maxfield

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The Saddle Up & Ride Antho Party

 

No…there will be no horses. Or Saddles. And no…you can't save a horse and ride a cowboy. We'll let the characters do that! But the authors of the Saddle Up N Ride Anthology will be stopping by Ethan Day's Yahoo Group on Sunday, January 16, 2011!

Please Join:

 

JP Bowie * Simone Anderson * Jambrea Jo Jones * Jaime Samms * Em Woods * Jan Irving

They'll be sharing excerpts and tidbits through out the day and giving away…prizes! I do believe a few lucky cow pokes will be getting copies of the anthology!

So come party with up with us! Ye haw!

Click Here to go to my Yahoo Group 

Sassy Gay Friends?

As horribly cliché as it is, this made me laugh my ass off!!!  So I naturally decided to share it with the rest of you.

Sigh…I am such a giver!!!

There are several others to be found on You Tube as part of the The Second City Network – some sort of a online sketch comedy thingy. I have yet to actually explore any of this further. Maybe some of y'all could school me. ; )

 

Sassy Gay Friend

Ethan Day interviews Ally Blue about What Hides Inside

Welcome everyone to the inaugural post of the 5.4.8×5 interview series, and who better to begin with than the lovely and talented Ally Blue. She had me hooked from the very first pages of Oleander House, which was my first foray into Ally's work and she hasn't let go of me since. I was so happy when she agreed to sit down and answer a few of my questions about this incredible series, so without further ado…direct to you from the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, I bring you Ally Blue…

Ethan: Before beginning your BCPI Series, I'd seen a handful of the Ghost Hunter-style shows on television, so I did have a basic idea of how things worked with regard to the occupation. I'd also heard talk about portals to other dimensions related to deadly monsters, just not outside of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer type of show. You've blended the paranormal, horror/monster, and sci-fi elements into this series. What made you think of mixing these subgenres together in this way? Had you planned this to be a series from the very beginning?

Ally: Ha, it's funny that you're talking about watching Ghost Hunter type shows on TV, because the Ghost Hunters show on Sci-Fi — oh, pardon me, Syfy **rolls eyes** — is one of the main inspirations behind the series. Or I should say, behind Oleander House, mostly, because in fact I did not originally intend for it to become a series. When I first started Oleander House many years ago, it was a very dark horror novel in which everyone but Sam and Bo died, and the two of them lived unhappily ever after in the house, basically due to the strength of Sam's mind control powers over Bo. Awful, huh? You can thank my editor Sasha at Samhain for turning it into a romance series instead. Thank you Sasha!

So, here's what happened. One night, I had this spectacularly horrible nightmare in which I was at a work meeting (that's not the nightmare part, ha!), walked out of the room and everyone was dead. The walls were covered in blood and there were body parts lying around. The house in Oleander House is taken directly from that dream, the whole of which took place in that house. The look, feel and entire atmosphere of the house was so striking that when I woke up, I scribbled down a description of it before it could slip away from me. Sam's first look at the place as he drives up is pretty much what I wrote down after waking from the dream. The interdimensional critters are also my attempt to describe whatever it was that killed everyone in my dream. If I remember right, Sam had a nightmare within the book in which there was blood and body parts all over the place. That's taken from my nightmare too. Yeah, my mind's a scary place sometimes O_O

Anyway, that dream was the initial catalyst for the book. I'd always wanted to write a horror book (I'm a HUGE horror fan) and I thought the house and the thing from the dream would make an awesome "creature" type horror story, but it needed a context. I love Ghost Hunters, love the whole scientific investigation aspect of it, and I liked the idea of contrasting that with the creature/horror thing. Sam and Bo's relationship could hardly be described as romance at that point, more pure lust on Bo's part and a part-lust-part-mind-control thing on Sam's part, but I thought it was a strong enough relationship to give a character-driven backbone to the story. Thus Oleander House was born. I wrote the beginning, I wrote the end, but I couldn't fill in the middle. In the years since, I've learned that when this happens to me, it means Something Is Wrong — plot-wise or character-wise — and I need to fix it, but back then I didn't know that. I just knew I was stuck. When I signed on with Samhain, I asked Sasha if she'd look at what I had. She made the suggestion of not killing off everyone, and continuing the tale as a romance series. The rest might be history if it was, you know, something worthy of history instead of a book series.

And that was probably WAY more than you wanted to know, LOL.

Ethan: Not at all, Ally! That was awesome. The way inspiration comes to other authors as well as getting a little bit of the back story to such a great series like BCPI is fascinating to me. Looks like we all owe Sasha a big thank you for steering the project toward a romantic series. And I think this is a great lesson, especially for any new authors out there looking to get published as well. A difficult lesson for many authors – as I think we're all inner-world control freaks – is that an idea doesn't need to come directly from you, the writer, in order for it to be a great idea. Very cool! Thank you for sharing all that.

I found it interesting that both Sam & Bo…even Dean are each more of an every-man type of guy. Sometimes brave but never without fear, capable of strong emotion yet not always able to show it. Not necessarily the kind of guy you'd notice right off the bat walking down the street or in a bar. They don't seem to fit neatly into any stereo-types. Talk to us a little about that. Was this your intent all along, or just the natural selection of an author at work? : )

Ally: First of all, thank you! I'm very glad to know that my guys seem like every-man types rather than stereotypes. More than anything else, I want them to be relatable people

To answer your question, though, creating them that way wasn't something I set out to do deliberately. I wish I could say it was, because I think that would make me sound a lot more awesome and talented than I actually am. LOL. But no, they just sort of happened that way. All my characters always seem to just sort of happen. Even in books that start from a kernel of interesting plot — or from some other outside source rather than from a character source, which is where my books usually come from — the characters themselves seem to grow organically. I don't think I've ever once said to myself, "self, for this tale, you must create a protagonist with this sort of personality and these particular traits." I'll usually begin with some simple idea, then "question" my budding character either with one of my character development worksheets or just fill in the blanks freeform as details about that person occur to me. Like with Dean, the first thing I had in my head was that he was going to be very outgoing and friendly; he just popped into my brain that way. A natural outgrowth of that was that he was a flirt. Then I realized he likes to tease and joke. His flirty, teasing personality often hides the depths of his loneliness, which he does not like to talk about. He had a history of being badly hurt in love; I literally didn't know the exact details of that until he told Sam in that one scene

That's an example of the sort of character-build process that usually happens. It's always like that — it just sort of flows. I usually tweak as I go along in the book and learn new things, but I've never deliberately made a character a particular way. Luckily for me, the characters seem to fit into the story pretty well most of the time anyway. Heh.

Ethan: In the first three books of the series, which is as far as I've managed to get thus far, the closeted/coming out process has been a major theme. Was that intentional from the very beginning of the series or did it spring from the natural growth of Bo's character over time?

Ally: As soon as I got to know Bo and realized how deeply closeted he was, I knew his struggle to come to terms with his sexuality and to come out would be central to the series. So, yeah, that overall theme threading through the series was intentional. The particulars of that theme — how it's expressed from book to book and Bo's progress in that area — is dependent on and built upon each previous book, so I never tried to plan in any great detail further than the book I was writing. No matter how hard I plan, the guys always surprise me somehow or another *g*

Ethan: LOL…guys have a way of doing that : )

I thought the introduction of Dean in the second book, What Hides Inside, was totally brill, especially considering the way book one ended – leaving the team short one member. His presence added a lot of emotional conflict both in the workplace as well as between Bo and Sam. It's an incredible example of how changing one character or aspect within the larger construct of a series can wreak the kind of wonderful havoc we all hate to admit we love. Making the character so likable was even more brill, as I found myself wavering throughout the book as to the way I wanted it to end. I think you did an awesome job at setting up an alternative to Bo for Sam with Dean's character. He wasn't a replacement so much as another road Sam could take…and it didn't seem like such a bad route at that. How much of this was planned and how much came organically? Did your approach to Dean's character change at all as you were working on the book?

Ally: Thank you very much! You know, this is a particularly interesting question for me. I am so not a pantster. I always plot out the whole book before I ever start writing it. But, I don't plot it minute detail. It's usually an overarching plot. Key scenes are the only ones that usually get plotted in detail before I start writing. Which leaves a lot of room for characters to change things up as I go. And boy, did Dean EVER. He came waltzing into my book and damn near took over. Now, he didn't change any big key plot points. I hardly ever have to make any big changes in my planned plot after I've started writing. Small changes, sure; huge ones, no. But Dean did switch things up right from the get-go and just kept on doing it.

I never expected him to be so darn nice. When I was plotting this thing out — and I'll tell you what, I'm having trouble remembering that far back, so I think I'm right here, but I might be off a bit — I believe I expected him to be a bit more of a seducer. Someone to come in, woo Sam away from Bo long enough for Sam to realize he wants and needs to be with Bo, then step back out of the picture when Sam tells him that. Or maybe get angry when Sam tells him that, I wasn't sure. But I did not expect him to be instrumental in getting Sam and Bo back together. I realized he would be after I met him and knew what sort of person he was. I had to adjust my plan on the fly. I have to do that with every book; it's inevitable, really. I guess my approach to Dean's character changed in that I had to change his plot arc because of who I realized he was, as opposed to who I'd thought he was. But it's probably more a case of changing how the characters deal with each other because of who they each are. Or in this case, who Dean is, since Sam and Bo's characters were already well established by then.

Isn't it weird to talk about these guys like they're real people? I mean, I invented them out of my BRAIN! Referring to them like they're actual people makes me sound certifiable O_O But they really do feel like real people sometimes! They surprise me when I'm writing! As if the things they do come from my subconscious mind rather than my conscious mind, you know? Of course you know, you do it too I bet

Ethan: I do, LOL! I've often joked that writers are the only people who can admit to hearing voices in their head without running the risk of being locked up in a nuthouse. : )

I thought it was really smart telling the stories from Sam's point of view for a variety of reasons, but especially when it came to the topic of Bo's wife, Janine. We're given clues as the state of their marriage from the very beginning of the first book, Oleander House. Having information imparted second hand through Sam added a level of detachment for the reader, sheltering us from the pain and severity that would have been there had we been placed in Bo's POV. Was this an intentional decision on your part? I assumed you did so because that wasn't really the story you wanted to tell, but now that I have you at the mercy of my nosiness and curiosity I wondered if you had other reasons?

Ally: I'd love to say I'm really that clever, but sadly, I am not. I told Oleander House from Sam's point of view because it just felt right, and I continued the whole series that way for the same reason, really. I hardly ever put much more thought than that into the point of view question in my books. Which is sad, really. I feel like I ought to know why I choose the POV I do, but the sorry truth is I pretty much operate on gut instinct in that arena. Instinct leads me around by the nose in a lot of ways when it comes to writing, which makes me nervous, but there you go.

I like your interpretation though. That's a really great way to look at it, and it's true, isn't it? Bo's POV would be way too skewed when it comes to his relationship with Janine. Not that Sam can look at it with 100% objectivity, but still, there's not as much baggage attached to the whole thing from his viewpoint. Hm. Interesting…

Ethan: Wow…thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions for us. I for one greatly appreciate it. : ) Now…on to the rest of the goodies:

To find out more about the rest of the books in this wonderful series visit Ally Blue's author profile page at Samhain – CLICK HERE

 

As a special treat for anyone who hasn't already discovered the BCPI series, Oleander House (pictured above) will be available as a free read on your Nook or Kindle for the entire month of January 2011!!  Happy New Year Indeed! ; )

 

Blurb:

Facing an alternate-reality horror: deadly. Facing their own secrets: much, much worse.

Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

In one fateful, first week with Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Sam Raintree learned he's psychic, possesses the power to open interdimensional portals and accidentally let loose an unimaginable horror. If that wasn't a busy enough schedule, he also began a relationship with his boss, the firmly closeted Dr. Bo Broussard.

Three months later, Bo's wedding ring is off, but he isn't ready to come out. Sam, tired of hiding, can hear their relationship creaking under the burden of secrets. Cracks appear when Bo hires Dean, a new investigator who's bi, out and openly interested in Sam. During an intense investigation into the mysterious disappearance of three students from South Bay High School, Bo's stubbornly cold shoulder leaves Sam only one way to go: toward Dean.

As he wonders if he should continue the fight for Bo's love, the team discovers shades of Oleander House echoing in South High's halls. Sam pushes his newfound psychic abilities to the limit—until an eruption of nightmarish proportions threatens to take the decision out of his hands. Permanently.

Warning: This title contains explicit, male/male angry sex, break-up sex, make-up sex, violent creatures with a taste for human flesh, sex and down-and-dirty language.

Excerpt:

© Copyright 2007 Ally Blue

They parked the SUV and piled out into the early morning sunshine. Sam lifted his face to smile at the pale blue sky. The weather was still unseasonably warm, and supposed to continue that way right through Thanksgiving.

Within a few minutes, the second SUV rolled to a stop. Cecile hopped down from the driver's seat while Dean stepped out of the passenger side. Bo slid out of the backseat, looking unbearably hot in snug black jeans and a form-fitting long-sleeved red T-shirt. Sam licked his lips, wishing the sight of the man didn't make his skin tingle. Not when he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

Dean sauntered toward Sam. "So, what do you think of the place?"

"It's gorgeous," Sam answered, truthfully enough. "I can't believe this is a public school. It looks more like a private college or something."

"Yeah, but don't be fooled. There's no air conditioning and it floods every spring."

Sam gave Dean a curious look as they followed the rest of the group up the steps to the archway leading inside. "Cecile said you went to high school here, is that right?"

Dean laughed. "Yeah. Of course, I graduated twelve years ago, so I'm sure some things have changed, but I'm betting there's still not air conditioning. It'd be a real bitch to install here."

"So, did you ever hear anything about these tunnels when you were in school here?"

"Yeah, everybody knew about 'em. Hell, I lost my cherry there."

"No way."

"It's true. The baseball team's pitcher nailed me during gym in tenth grade."

"Doesn't sound very romantic," Sam mused, holding the front door open for Dean to pass through.

"Oh, and I suppose your first time was on a moonlit beach, with wine and roses and violins?" Dean arched an eyebrow as he brushed past Sam, so close Sam could smell his musky cologne. "Spare me. Besides, it took me weeks of plying the boy with my considerable charm before he caved. Major closet case, that one was."

Sam grinned. "Something tells me you were never a closet case."

"Right you are. I proudly swing both ways." With a quick glance at the group a few paces ahead, Dean leaned close, voice dropping low. "You're not, are you?"

"What, a closet case? No, I'm out."

"I figured. I can always spot the bent ones, if they're my type." Dean flashed a wicked smile. "And you are definitely my type."

A spike of pure lust shot up Sam's spine at the suggestion in Dean's voice. Hot on the heels of his physical reaction came a wave of horrified guilt. I love Bo. How could I want Dean?

The answer, of course, was clear. Sam's feelings for Bo couldn't overcome his need for a warm, willing body between his legs and a hot, hard cock pounding him into blissful oblivion. Much as he wished it wasn't true, he craved sex, and Bo wasn't ready to give it to him. The fact that Dean was willing and able was terribly tempting.

"Would you two care to join the rest of us now?"

Bo's irritated voice shook Sam out of his thoughts. He looked over to where Bo stood in the open doorway of the principal's office. Bo's cheeks were flushed, his dark eyes snapping with transparent jealousy. Sam didn't know whether to be flattered or aggravated.

"We're coming," Sam said, ignoring Dean's barely stifled giggle. "We were talking about the tunnels."

"Yeah," Dean chimed in. "They're really hot and tight."

Sam cringed. Bo gaped. Dean plowed on, apparently oblivious to them both. "I was telling Sam how I'd been down there in high school. The tunnels are narrow and low-ceilinged, and warmer than you'd think."

"That's true," Mr. Innes added as they stepped through the door. "As a matter of fact, some scholars have speculated that the unexpected heat in the tunnels may have been the reason the monks abandoned the place. Evidently the original cellars didn't turn out to be cool enough to store their wine and perishables for any length of time."

"They didn't tell anyone why they left?" David wondered.

Mr. Innes shrugged. "If they did, it was never recorded. The monks simply disappeared, without leaving any record as to where they were going."

Andre's eyebrows went up. "That's interesting. Can you tell us any more of the property's history?"

"I'm afraid I've already told you all I know." The principal frowned. "Is it important?"

"It could be." Bo glanced at Dean, dark eyes cool now. "Dean, on Monday I'd like for you and David to go to the main library and see what else you can find out about this property."

"Okay." Dean gave Bo a winning smile. "Anything in particular you want us to be on the lookout for?"

Bo tugged on his braid, his expression thoughtful. "Keep an eye out for any other disappearances especially, but you'll want to look for anything unusual. I wish I could be more specific, but I can't. You'll both just have to use your judgment."

"Got it, boss." David nudged Dean's elbow. "You'll be training with me, by the way."

Dean nodded. "Bo told me. I'm looking forward to it."

Glancing at Bo, Sam was relieved to see the man's eyes gleaming like they always did on an interesting case, all traces of jealousy gone. Sam caught Bo's gaze and held it, letting his love shine through. Bo cast a furtive glance around the room, then flashed a brief, brilliant smile that made Sam feel hot all over.

Bo cleared his throat. "All right, let's get started. Mr. Innes, what we'll need to do first is tour the school, including the tunnels. After that, we'll regroup here in your office, if that's okay, and decide on an investigative plan for the day."

"Very well. And what do you need me to do, apart from showing you the school?"

"Nothing, really," Andre answered. "We may have more questions for you after the tour, though."

"And we'll need to know where the electrical outlets are," Sam added. "In case we need to set up cameras."

"I can show those to you as we go." Fishing in his desk drawer, Mr. Innes pulled out a hefty ring of keys and pocketed it. "Shall we go?"

"We're ready." Bo started toward the office door, then turned around again. "Who's got the notepad?"

"I do," David said, pulling a small notebook and a pen from his jacket pocket.

"Oh, no." Andre snatched the items out of David's hand and passed them to Sam. "We need notes that someone can actually read later."

David pressed a hand to his heart. "I'm wounded, man. Wounded."

Rolling his eyes, Andre gave David a shove toward the door. "I'll show you wounded, smart-ass. Move it."

Still playfully bickering, Andre and David followed Mr. Innes out of the office, with the rest of the group trailing behind. As they headed down the first floor hallway, Sam found himself walking between Bo and Dean. He couldn't help wondering just how prophetic that position would turn out to be.

May I Present Reese Dante

As my first official post under the That Day Boy's Bits category, I wanted to do a little something special as my way of saying thank you to the person who spent countless hours corresponding with me through hundreds of e-mails, in order to make this beautiful new website and blog a reality…none other than the spectacularly talented Reese Dante!!

(Insert Applause Here)

In addition to her stunningly beautiful work on my website, Reese is also the Art Director for Silver Publishing and cover artist extraordinaire, whose work recently won her the 2010 Rainbow Award Cover Competition for Oracle. I think it's safe to say, after the many months of working with her, I can also call her my friend – which is like totally way more important than all that other stuff. : )

My experience working with Reese was a dream. Always purposeful with regard to my time, she quite creatively took the best from all my ideas, and came up with a design that is uniquely me – allowing those who visit my online home greater insight into who I am, as an individual and an author.

So without further ado…here's a little bit more about Reese…from Reese:

For as far back as I can remember, I've loved art. A self-taught artist, I was drawing from the moment I could pick up a crayon…well perhaps squiggling would be more accurate, but hey, we've all gotta start somewhere. As I matured, so did my technique. I spent hours studying every detail in photographs, playing with different tools and media until finally settling with pencil portrait sketches.

In lieu of studying art, I completed my degrees in management and marketing then joined the corporate world, finding myself nestled in a successful career. But something was still missing. I dabbled in graphic design work which seemed to slightly fill the void until Leiland approached me to design his first cover. That project unleashed a creative monster which had been dormant for entirely too long.

Today, I continue my corporate life during the day, but anxiously await the evenings when I'm able to feed the creative beast. Designing cover art and working with other talented artists is truly a blessing, and my only regret is not having started sooner.

Here's how Reese describes her passion:

People say, "Don't judge a book by its cover", but we all do it. If the cover doesn't spark an interest, we tend to assume the story will fall short as well. But if the cover grabs your attention, there's a greater likelihood you'll give it a shot. I design covers because I enjoy bringing a story to life in a picture.

Considering a cover design is one of the most important marketing tools an author can have to generate sales, it is imperative to capture the essence of the story, its mood, and characters in an eye-catching cover.

I hope you'll all stop by her website and take a look at her portfolio.

 

                                                                                              Click Banner to Visit Her Site

Guesting at Jessewave's

Hello All!!

My first official piece of news of what is almost 2011, is that I've been invited and have happily accepted an invitation from Wave to post a quarterly segment on her review site. Sort of like a column about whatever catches my fancy…which lets face it…leaves the door hanging wide open. : ) 

Picture me like Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex & the City – sitting at her lap top as she stares out her New York City apartment – posing the really important questions like: At what point does that extra half an inch become too much? Is there really such a thing as a versatile gay man, or are they all just bottoms who are trying to butch up their image? Will I ever find my very own Big, and will that nickname actually refer to the size of his wallet? : )

Wave announced the news on her site yesterday and it took no time at all for me hijack the comments with my usual shenanigans. You should definitely pop over and have a look. A good time was had by all…even the monkey's.

To check out Wave's Post click here.

Ethan's Instruction Manual

Now that some of the dust has settled I thought I'd take a minute to explain the way this new blog is going to work. Not that I think any of you are too feather brained to figure it out on your own, but hey…some days it helps to have it all spelled out. : )

I'm basically going to be posting everything into one of five different categories: Origins, 5.4.8×5, Homo-Promo, That Day Boys Bits, & Ramblins'. The banner at the top of each post will let you know what you're getting yourself into.

Before anyone decides to ask…no…I do not own a label maker & my house is most definitely NOT organized. I'm actually a bit of a slob, truth be told, lol. My dust bunnies have staked out my home and formed into rival dustyB-gangs vying for territory.

Dragging my ass back to the point of all this…

What you'll be getting with posts under the Origins category will be my older blog posts – both from my first blog as well as from some of my original guest blogs. I've had several people write to me requesting that I organize all my posts in one easy to resource location. For those folks…this category is for you. : )

I've already written up a separate post explaining what the 5.4.8×5 posts will consist of, but for anyone who missed it – a detailed description can be found here. I should have Ally Blue's interview ready to post sometime next week!

Homo-Promo will be all my latest and greatest headlines – where I'll be posting any and all news about new book releases or contracts, reviews, interviews, gay day, etc.

That Day Boy's Bits will consist of all the stuff I like, that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the writing. The OMG did you see what happened on GLEE last night, kinda stuff. In other words, the REAL important shit, LOL!

Finally, that leaves us with the Ramblins' category, which is basically whatever I wind up going on about whenever I get a bug up my butt about something. The meat to go along with all the other starch and veg listed above. : )

I'm looking forward to spending more time with all of you in 2011…regardless of how I wind up labeling it!

Much Love

Ethan

Welcome to the Addiction to Fiction Blog…again

The Origins of Ethan Day…

Let me first welcome everyone to the all new Addiction to Fiction Blog. Isn't it all bright and shiny – like a brand new penny – that hasn't been lost to the land that time forgot…aka under the seat in your car?

No sir, this penny is clean and sparkly – unlike the ones occupying the floor board of your auto, which have been beaten up and stepped on and are now keeping that lone McDonalds French Fry company…along with the stray ink pen, wadded up straw paper, and hair ball – which you pray isn't off your own head while simultaneously being grossed out by the thought it could possibly belong to anyone else. Just as your beginning to recover from that mind numbing realization – you remember how many months it's been since you've eaten McDonalds French Fry's and marvel over the fact that fry looks exactly the way it did the day you purchased them. Spooooky!

But getting back to my new & improved blog – the proverbial penny that hasn't been used and abused like the bathroom stall in a gay bar…I'm hopeful that between me and all of you, she won't stay all nice and pretty for too long. Because that would mean we aren't using her…and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will be one slutty little blog.

Upon closing down the old blog in preparation for uploading everything to the new one, I came across my original post, welcoming everyone to the Addiction to Fiction Blog. Instead of coming up with a regurgitated version of the old 'welcome' I thought it would be fun to start this baby off by reposting it in its original entirety. It's been right at two years and I'm pleased to see that I haven't matured at all since then. LOL! Don't shake your head at me! What you might consider to be a lack of evolution, I call consistency. : )

I hope you enjoy the re-broadcast of the same old me, pulled from the dusty halls of time and polished up for your viewing pleasure. Who knew a little spit in the palm of your hand could be used for something other than self-fulfillment?

 

 The Original Addiction to Fiction Post:

Hello to all!

Who is Ethan Day, you may be wondering?  I've been asking myself that question for a very long time.  I'm not sure I really want to know the answer.  I'm a little frightened that if I ever truly know who I am, and there is no longer anything new to discover about myself, I'll no longer have anything fun to write about. Welcome to my neuroses, folks!

I do know that I love falling in love, most of us do, I suppose, and I'm lucky enough to be able to write about it.  I've always been a day dreamer — seeing a hot guy walking down the street I'll immediately begin imagining what he might be like.  Wondering what his little quirks and personal ticks could be, what he does for a living, and imagining what the sound of his laugh is like.

Before I know it, I'm working out what our lives together would be like.  Do we live in a high rise apartment, or a snow covered cabin in the woods?  Will we have one or two dogs?  Is he a top or a bottom…versatile?  Do I live in constant fear he'll go back to that one ex-boyfriend…the one he still looks at in a way that makes me fear my new man isn't completely over his old one?  Does he find my constant over analyzing and over active imagination annoying, or does he think it's sweet and adorable in that Ally McBeal sort of way?

This is how the stories that eventually make it onto the page often begin — a fantasy or day dream that gets stuck in my head and refuses to leave until I sit and purge it from my brain by writing it down.  While I do most of my writing at the computer, I still sometimes curl up with pen and paper, writing the old-fashioned way. It's nice to not always have that devious little cursor blinking on the screen as if impatiently screaming, "I'm waiting, bitch…write something already!"

I'm both thrilled and flattered if you've actually taken the time to read my blog, books, or any other part of my website.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or with any topics you'd be interested in seeing in future blogs.  I'll do my best to accommodate you.

Much Love,

Ethan

Copyright 2008-2010 Ethan Day. All Rights Reserved.

5.4.8×5 — You Found It!

 

Hello Folks!

For those of you who found your way here, attempting to figure out what the hell 5.4.8×5 is all about, you're in luck, for I'm about to explain it to you! LOL! 

5.4.8×5 is basically a short interview consisting of five questions for one of the many awesomely great, and fabulous authors of gay romance. The interviews will be questions about their books as opposed to personal questions about the authors themselves – similar to what you might find in the DVD Extra's of a film. Most paperbacks for gay romance are around 8 x 5 inches, which is where I came up with the snazzy name. It's meant to be a fun and interesting inquiry into the writing process and how the stories themselves came to be. Along with those interviews you'll be treated to the promotional blurb and an excerpt of the authors choosing.

 As an added bonus, many of the authors I'm interviewing have agreed to turn around and do the same, by interviewing an author they love about one of their books! I can't wait to read these. : )

I'm really excited about this new, bi-monthly series of interviews. I think it's going to be both fun and interesting to find out what other authors have gleaned from reading the wonderful stories written by their peers…not to mention what the authors will reveal about their own work in the process.

The very first to be featured in the 5.4.8×5 series will be none other than Ally Blue – who will be answering my questions about What Hides Inside – the second book in her phenomenal Bay City Paranormal Investigations series. I can't wait to see what Ally has to say!

Stay tuned – I'll be announcing the date of Ally's post within the upcoming weeks.

Much Love

Ethan

Copyright 2010 Ethan Day. All Rights Reserved.