K-lee Klein's Blog: Chaos in the Moonlight , page 14

December Author Interview/Give-away #3 - Terry Milien

My guest today is a fabulous author, editor, and translator who I very much enjoy talking to on Twitter. Please welcome Terry Milien to my blog. Thanks for being here, Terry. J
Thank you for having me in the first place! ^_^ Hi everyone!
1. How about we start with some basic information – tell me a little bit about yourself? Where did you grow up? What kind of student were you? What were your favorite activities? Anything you want to share is fine. J
Sure! Well, I’m Terry, I grew up in Belgium, not far from the north border of France. I always was on the lazy side of things, studies included. BUT I also have excellent auditory memory so I didn’t actually need to study to get good grades, which infuriated most of the people who knew about it. :3 The only class I had terrible grades was PE—sports are the bane of my existence, I’m so clumsy and uncoordinated it's not funny. Reading has been a big part of my life since I was 11, when I opened Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s for US peeps) for the first time. People kept giving me the weird look ’cause I always dragged at least one book around.
2. How did you start writing m/m romance? Do you write any other genre?
I’m still new to writing professionally as a whole. I’ve had ideas sticking with me since I was 15 but I’m only now starting to put them into shape. Something was always missing, and I’ve realized it’s because I wanted to fit in the literary mold, writing about straight MCs and their gay best friend. My teen years weren’t always happy, so I learned to hide myself. Getting married last May really boosted my self-confidence to be who I am and write what I want to write—as well as the discovery that there is a world for people who enjoy stories about and with homosexuals.
So to get back at your original question: I’d read Treasure by Megan Derr when it was on fictionpress.com a few years ago and it stuck with me a long, long while. Last June, I felt the sudden urge to read it again and found it had been deleted, along with everything Megan had on there. So I Googled it, and ended up on lessthanthreepress.com. After buying the whole series, I looked around the place and saw the submission calls. 
I saw the Kiss Me at Midnight one, said to myself, “I can do this.” and I went through with it. Later, I witnessed the whole “Halloween Rentboys” shenanigans on Twitter and also submitted a story for that. Seriously, this is all kind of my own Cinderfella fairytale :-)
Since then, I’ve been revisiting all of my old ideas to see which ones would work for this genre, which hasn’t been as hard as it could seem since at least one or two of each of my characters already were supposed to be gay.
I don’t have anything else published at the moment, but I do want to explore more than just m/m; possibly f/f, and maybe more.
3. Did you have any early influences either in this genre or any other when you were first starting out?
Well, since I’m still starting out, I don’t really know what to say. I’m a really observant person—in fact, I watch and listen to what’s happening around me far more than I participate in conversations—and since I read so many different things… Shows, too. I love me some TV shows. I can’t really develop any further, there are just so many things that can influence me. Music, something someone tells me, an ad, etc. Anything can trigger that part of my brain that plots my stories. Although I’d be lying if I didn’t point you to Harry Potter and Charmed as my all-time favorite books and show, respectively. I love me some Buffy, too.
4. What is your favorite sub-genre to write and to read? For example – I can never pass up a story with a rockstar in it or more often than not, cowboys. J
Fantasy, no questions asked, and all sub-subgenres thereof. Supernatural, paranormal, too. Give me dragons, fairies, and elves, and I’m a happy boy! ^_^ I’m always surprised when something magical/unexplainable doesn’t happen to my characters, but I don’t try to force it. If it’s supposed to be contemporary, I let it be. [Notice how the stories are my masters, not the other way around… :3]
5. Do you have any writing or reading quirks or squicks? Anything that you just can't read or don't think you'll ever write. Anything you have to do before you start or as you write – certain music, computer facing west, etc.
Quirks: I don’t know? Well, I’m actually a hermit. I need absolute quiet to get anything done. I’m just so easily distracted. My phone ringing, music from the neighbor’s, anything will conspire to make me unable to produce any kind of work, not just my own writing either. I’ll reread the same sentence over and over again, or just stare at the keyboard not knowing which key to hit first. My husband has this nasty habit of having to do something with his hands when he watches TV. So he’ll tap a pen on his lap, or play with the remote, and even if they’re not loud, those sounds get on my nerves. LOL. But I can’t put my desk anywhere else so I need to endure, which is why I work at night—most of the time, I don’t start until way past midnight unless I’m alone in the house. So definitely, I need quiet, and solitude.
Squicks? Probably BDSM. Maybe I haven’t found the right story yet, but I do not enjoy reading it, so I don’t have any plans to write it. Role play during sex is one thing, outright BDSM doesn’t do anything for me, though. I won’t say never, however.
6. What do you find most enjoyable about writing m/m romance? Least enjoyable?
I’m not sure. It’s not something that I’ve ever thought about in those terms. I just write it, because it’s what I want to write, what feels right. So I guess that would be my reply: what I most enjoy is it completes me in a way nothing else can, not watching TV, not even reading. I’m makingsomething, living adventures and stories that I’ll never get to live in real life.
What I least enjoy? Probably the feeling of not belonging outside of the Internet. It’d be so great to know our books could end up in an actual brick and cement store, wouldn’t it? Not an LGBTQ store, either. That doesn’t count. But as with everything, gays are kept aside, and that's definitely not something I enjoy.
7. I've heard a rumor you write fanfiction – care to tell us about it?  ;)
I do. Well, I usedto. I haven’t written any for a few years, though I’ll probably get back to it eventually, especially with Sterek :3 I have yet to write any slash fiction, though. Since younger me liked to pretend his fanfics could have been canonical, turning main characters gay randomly wouldn’t have worked!
I’ve only ever written fanfics on HP and Charmed so far, though. (They’re a constant in my life, LMAO.)
8. Tell me about your muse – if you have one of course. J
Ugh. If there was a Bureau of Muse Liaison, I’d totally go demand a replacement! I call her Slacker. She keeps odd hours, always chimes in when I’m otherwise busy, and can go on strike for weeks at a time!
9. What's the first element of a story that comes to you – characters, plot, scenes, setting?
It’s different every time. Sometimes, I get a really clear plot. Sometimes just a character and his background. Sometimes a scene, an event. What I struggle with most are names and physiques, I usually have to think about those, they don’t come fully shaped—shame!
10. I won't assume you celebrate Christmas but if you do, what are your favorite parts of the holidays?
I don’t celebrate Christmas, per se. It could be called anything and I wouldn’t care either way. I was raised a Christian, but according to the Bible I’m already on my way to Hell so I can’t really bring myself to care about religion. What I do is enjoy spending time with my family and giving them presents just to see their smiles.
11. Now just a few multiple choice questions: (you can take them any way you like)
That’s the way I like it, ahah. A word of warning: I’m terrible at this game. I’ll mostly always find a way to reply “Both” or something along that idea. :3
Rock, country or classical?
That’s all? Huh. My music tastes are what you would call eclectic. I don’t just swing one way or the other, unlike with my sexual preferences! LOL People often look at me when I tap my foot or shake my booty and ask, “You like this? But I thought –” I get this all the time. You don’t put no label on me! :p
Giraffe or monkey?
I’ve seen a baby giraffe and it was cuter than baby monkeys so, giraffe!
Tea or coffee?
Both (told ya!). It’ll depend on my mood and craving of the time. I can go a month with coffee and switch to tea the next, or drink both the same day.
Who would win in a fight – vampires or werewolves?
What kind of question is this? Of course it would be the werewamp hybrid spawned from both ruling families and hidden at birth… ^_^;;
Series or one-shot?
For the sake of my bank account: one-shots. But who am I kidding? I love me some series. When it’s an older series I’m only finding about now, I buy all the books and read-athon them. If it’s a series that’s about to end, I do the same, making sure to be done with the earlier ones when the last one is released. And if it’s an ongoing series, I do that with the already published ones and then bitch to anyone listening that the writer is making me wait, how dare they?!
Beach or mountains?
Beach, no doubt. Sunbathing with a good book for the win!
Eyes or smile?
Tough! Eyes, thensmile. You catch my attention with your eyes, and drag me in with a smile. Don’t let my husband read this. :3
Cowboys or rockstars? (yeah, I have to ask)
Let me get this straight (Ah, damn right!): muscled men who stink of sweat from taking care of cattle versus weirdly-dressed men who stink of sweat from blaring their lungs out to a crazy crowd? Did I get that right? Clearly, both. Although if a knight in shining armor shows up, he’ll win. :3
12. Finally, tell us about your next release or what you're working on now.
My next release is the one Kiss Me at Midnight story I was telling you about, Midnight Strokes, and it comes out January 16. “Despite the odds against them, Eric and Allan have been together for ten years. But stuck at a family New Year's party, Allan is painfully aware of all that has been wrong and missing between them lately, and fears that the new year is going to be his first alone.”
Currently I’m working on Firesong, my Sandy Relief Auction story, won by Sasha L. Miller—and exclusively for you, here’s the cover, so kindly made by none other than the awesome Megan Derr herself.
I’m also hoping to get something done for the Dracones anthology call Storm Moon Press is running until Dec. 31. I have the story outlined to the scene, I just need that damnable Slacker to let me write it! *glares at the muse*
Outside the writing front, I’m also translating Megan (Derr)’s Treasure to French, which is only the beginning of a long list. Being able to bring these awesome stories to a larger audience really is a great feeling!
And, actually, next year I’ll be putting myself out there for anyone (publishers/self-publishing authors) interested in an editor or a translator (or both), as that will be my only full-time activity come January. Anyone interested, keep an eye on my website ^_^
Thanks for stopping by Terry. It was nice to get to know you a little better. J
Again, thanks for having me! This was as fun as I expected! =D

Terry has always loved making up stories. Even before he could write or read, he could be found changing around Disney's stories after he'd watched the movies. The youngest of five, the odd one out, he grew up constantly bored because his siblings were "too old to play", so making up stories was really a necessity. At 11 he was hooked by the Harry Potter phenomenon, and by 16 he really couldn't wait for the damn translations to be made so he decided to go for the original versions. Since then he mostly writes, reads and watches TV in English.
He can be reached via many social networks and blogging sites, among others:terrymilien.jimdo.com@TerryMilienfacebook.com/terrymiliente...
GIVEAWAY?
I'm offering an ebook copy of Laying in Wait to one winner, and my upcoming release Midnight Strokes to another. That's right, two giveaway. ^_^ But the winner of Midnight Strokes will have to wait until the official release date of January 16.
Terry's giveaway will run from December 7-9 inclusive. Just comment with your name and email address - don't forget the email or I won't be able to get ahold of you. The winners will be posted on this thread on December 10. Good luck!

Dec. Author Interview/Give-away #2 - TARA LAIN

My guest on my blog today is one of the sweetest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet – the lovely Tara Lain. Tara has a new release in her Balls to the Wall series, "Snow Balls", on December 7th. Welcome Tara and thank you for being here.
1. How about we start with some basic information – tell me a little bit about yourself? Where did you grow up? What kind of student were you? What was your favorite activity when you were growing up? Anything you want to share is fine.
First, thank you for that wonderful welcome! I’m so delighted to be here. So, about me. I’m an Army brat so I grew up all over. I lived in Europe and Japan as well as in several places in the US before I was in high school. I call Washington, D.C. home even though I wasn’t born there because my grandparents were there and we came back there after travels. I also went to college there. I studied theater but ended up in marketing which is still my day job. I own a small ad/pr firm. As an adult, I have kept up the traveling and have been all over the world, mostly with my wonderful husband to whom I’ve been married for 31 years. I live in Laguna Beach, California where I set many of my books including the entire Balls to the Wall series.
2. How did you start writing m/m romance? Do you write in any other genres?
I blame Jet Mykles for my becoming a MM writer. I actually came to this novelist thing late in life even though I wrote my first books at five. I’ve been a non-fiction writer forever as part of my marketing. I’ve literally written hundreds of magazine articles under other people’s names. I didn’t decide to write a book until after I read my first erotic romances. I’d always thought writing a book sounded like just more work since I already wrote all day. But when I found erotic romance, I was delighted. Now this sounded like FUN! So I decided to write a MF erotic romance about an older woman scientist and her younger research partner. Then I ordered Jet’s book, Heaven Sent, from Amazon. I didn’t know it was MM when I ordered it! But I read it and LOVED it. I was hooked. I added another man to my love story and it became a MMF ménage. The book is Genetic Attraction which was nominated for a CAPA last year. So yes, I also write ménage in which all three lovers have sex with each other.
3. Did you have any early influences either in this genre or any other when you were first starting out?
I always give credit to my three biggest influences -- Jet Mykles, Lynn Lorenz and Z. A. Maxfield. Reading their books showed me the excellence possible in the genre and pointed me toward the kind of writer I wanted to be. It’s so nice to be able to say that they are now all friends.
4. What is your favorite sub-genre to write and to read? For example – I can never pass up a story with a rockstar in it or more often than not, cowboys.
Hmm.  I do love pretty boys, even to the extent that i enjoy stories about cross-dressers sometimes. I know the books when I see them but it’s hard to say how I know! LOL
5. Do you have any writing or reading quirks or squicks? Anything that you just can't read or don't think you'll ever write. Anything you have to do before you start or as you write – certain music, computer facing west, etc.
I am the odd duck that can’t listen to music when I write. I think I’m so left-brained as a writer that the music and the story try to occupy the same space. Aside from that, I’m very flexible. I have to be. I write all day for my job and still squeeze in six to eight books and stories a year. I doubt that I’ll ever write BDSM. I have some light spanking and bondage in my books, but I don’t think I’ll ever get into it in a big way.
6. Are you a plotter or pantser?
I’m a plotser. I have a general idea of the story before I begin -- the characters, arc, highpoints and ending. I seldom write it down, although sometimes I do. Then I just start writing with the framework generally in mind. The rest is pansted and I listen to my characters tell me their stories. I’m always surprised!
7. I won't assume you celebrate Christmas but if you do, what are your favorite parts of the holidays?
I love decorating the Christmas tree and then sitting and looking at it. This year I have no tree up because we’re selling our house and I don’t want to add the extra hassle. But I will miss looking at it --even though I won’t miss all the boxes and mess.
8. Tell me about your muse – if you have one of course.
I don’t have a sense of a muse. What I am aware of is the creative process. I think about my story often as I drive or as I’m falling asleep. But when I’m ready to write, I just sit at the computer, put my hands on the keyboard, clear my mind, and let it flow. I love the feeling of the writing happening by itself.
9. Have you ever based any of your characters on real people?
Only one. Shay Shaleen in Genetic Celebrity (a MMF ménage with ford porn!) is based on Andrej Pejic. Shay is not transsexual just androgynous, but he resembles Andrej.
10. Finally just a few multiple choice questions: (you can take them any way you like)
Rock, country or classical?  I love them all depending on my mood but country the least of the three.
Giraffe or monkey?  Giraffe. I have a neck like one.
Tea or coffee? Tea if it’s a chai latte.
Who would win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? Vampires.
Series or one-shot? Series
Beach or mountains? Beach (but maybe forests most!)
Eyes or smile? Eyes unless the smile is completely captivating like Tom Cruise. I don’t even love Cruise, but that smile is amazing! Gernerally, I love sexy eyes.
11. Finally, tell us about your next release or what you're working on now.I’ve just completed a story for Valentine’s Dayish time period. It’s called Hearts and Flour and it’s an unlikely love story between a guy who is a passionate raw food vegan who falls for the owner of a cupcake store before he knows who he is. Like most of my stories, it’s a combination of light-hearted, romantic and emotional, with some serious themes. And now you have caught me in the run-up to my next book. I have several books I want to write this year -- the next Aloysius Tale after Spell Cat and Brush with Catastrophe , the next two Balls books, and, surprisingly, a scifi dystopian MM. BUT, right now I’m exploring a whole new contemporary with a wedding theme. I think it gets written next.
TARA LAIN biography Tara Lain’s first erotic romance novel was published in January of 2011. She’s now on book 16. Her novels have garnered awards for Best Series of 2011, Best Contemporary Romance, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm, and she carries her promotional instincts into her writing career as well. She lives  with her soul-mate husband in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books.  Passionate about diversity,  justice, and new experiences , Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”! You can check out all of Tara's book on her website. 
Would you like to win your own Balls book? You can have your choice of Volley Balls (the Aussie sandwich), Fire Balls (the artist and the firefighter) and Beach Balls (enemies to lovers--underwater). Just leave me a comment with your email, please. If you’ve read the first three Balls books, we’ll work something out! Contest will be open from December 5-7 - winner will be announced on this post on December 8.Special thanks to K-Lee for this wonderful invitation. It’s such a joy to be here! :) *hugs*

Christian Kane pic spam #2 - you knew it would happen, right?

First off - here's a cover of the song Fast Car by Tracy Chapman that Christian released on his The House Rules album. The original was released in 1988 - yeah, I remember it - and I never could have put a country singer at the mic but he does a damn good job. I had this version on repeat for a while on Sunday - it helped my anxiety believe it or not. :) (the audio's a little less than stellar on the vid but definitely passable)



Bandana porn and such a beautiful lost-in-the-song expression.


He cleans up pretty awesomely though he needs to stop flipping his ends w his flatiron. Lol.

He dirties up pretty well, too.

Glasses and tuque porn - and a smile. Mercy. I love his Eliot's-pissed-off-face - love it. So mean you wouldn't know he was pretty at all.

Awesome photo.

 Eliot is not amused. Someone's gonna get tuned-up real fast.

Costumed-Eliot is always a blast.

Sweet pic in his country element.

Guh - that pretty much explains it. His expression, bandana-porn, & I love that jacket.He's just beautiful in this scene.

Performing contentment.
These last two are so emotional they break my heart.

December Author interview #1 - ZACH SWEETS

The first guest for my Author Interviews 2012 is someone I consider a very good friend and I hung out with a lot at GRL this year (he and his fabulous partner, Neal) Zach Sweets is in the house! Thanks for being here, Zach. J
1. How about we start with some basic information – tell me a little bit about yourself? Where did you grow up? What kind of student were you? What were your favorite activities? Where did you meet your partner? Anything you want to share is fine. J
Well, I was an army brat and I’ve moved pretty often before I finally settled in Arizona. I was born in El Paso, Texas. I moved to North Carolina briefly because that was where my entire family lived. After North Carolina, we moved to Germany for a couple of years then I moved back to USA to Kansas. I lived in Kansas from 1995 to 2001 before moving to California and graduated at a high school in 2005. After graduating from high school, I went to Gallaudet University in Washington, DC for two years and transferred to University of Baltimore to finish my degree. I graduated from University of Baltimore in 2010 and stayed in Maryland for a couple of months before my partner and I decided to move to Arizona.
What kind student I was? LOL Definitely the quietest one. I was the one that sat way back in the room. A laidback type as well. Hated to study and had a bad habit of doing everything at the last minutes. My favorite activities are running, designing random stuff on computer, coding the websites, writing, and reading. Of course spending my time with my awesome lover.
(K-lee shamelessly inserts pic of herself, Neal & Zach from GRL because she loves it)
It’s a funny story of where I met Neal and I’m a fate-believer. I met him at a bar in Baltimore called Phoenix Club. It was a couple weeks before I turned twenty-two and my former partner who worked as a bartender at Club Phoenix thought I knew Neal for several years had invited Neal to my surprise twenty-two birthday party. That night I first met him, I was shy as hell because I thought he was beyond hot. Salt-pepper hair, goatee, the cutest smile, my god! I couldn’t handle it. I ended up not talking to him that much and there were a couple of other deaf friends in the bar so I chat with them instead of him. It was the only way I could control myself. As soon as Neal left the bar, I asked one of our mutual friends for his phone number. She was more than happy to give me the number. I texted him that night. We also became friend on facebook the next day. My surprise birthday party came up and I was even more surprise to see Neal there. After that we became close friend instantly. In May 2009, it was his birthday and he told me he always fly out for his birthday since in Maryland was always a bad luck for him. So I planned an awesome surprise birthday party for him and after that weekend, I was starting to fall for him deeper and I was having a problem with my former partner. In August, I slept with Neal without intention of cheating but I did it. I admitted to my ex immediately. It didn’t ended well. After broking up with my ex, I stayed with my dad for just one day and the next day I moved in with Neal. I asked him to be my boyfriend on September 4, 2009. Of course he said yes and we’ve been together ever since. :D
2. How did you start writing m/m romance? Do you write in any other genre?
I honestly did write when I was in the middle school. I wrote a het erotic story on my journal for class and it made my English teacher blushed. She told me it was really good but I was forbid to write similar to it for school purpose. So I didn’t write anything from 2000 till 2010. I started reading M/M in 2009 after I was introduced by one of Neal’s friend to Soul Mates series written by Jourdan Lane. I was hooked and continued reading more M/M books. It eventually inspired me to attempt at writing again. I met several awesome friends from Goodreads that was more than happy to help me out. Grammar isn’t my friend and I know I’ve improved a lot by now. I already got four accepted manuscripts. Two had been released already and next two will be in 2013. I also have one freebie that had been in top ten free gay & lesbian categories in Amazon since August 2011. I currently plan to write more horror in a near future. Possibly under different pen name since it will not involve any romance and most likely wouldn’t have a happy for now ending.
3. Did you have any early influences either in this genre or any other when you were first starting out?
I think it’d be Jourdan Lane that was the main reason why I wanted to write in the first place. But really, it was the M/M Romance Goodreads Group that inspired me to write. After receiving thousands of awesome support from them, I just want to keep writing and see my stories making them pleased.
4. What is your favorite sub-genre to write and to read? For example – I can never pass up a story with a rockstar in it or more often than not, cowboys. J
Zombie is my favorite sub-genre. I couldn’t ever get enough of them. :D I already have two different zombies projects in plan.
5. Do you have any writing or reading quirks or squicks? Anything that you just can't read or don't think you'll ever write. Anything you have to do before you start or as you write – certain music, computer facing west, etc.
I can’t write incest at all. It doesn’t turn me on so I don’t see a point of myself attempting at write the incest relationship. I think that’s all I can think of. I like to listen to soft rock music while I write. TV on as well since I can watch and think simultaneously.
6. Are you a plotter or pantser?  ;)
Hmm, probably pantser. I’m trying to be a plotter LOL
7. Tell me about your muse – if you have one of course. J
Hmm, my muse is a pain in the butt. Never let me concentrate one project and actually finished them. It liked to give me thousands ideas in my head. Sometime it’d make me lose my mind and couldn’t write for several days sometime weeks. Lately, I’ve been improving at controlling my damn muse. :D
8. I won't assume you celebrate Christmas but if you do, what are your favorite parts of the holidays?
Halloween’s my favorite holidays because I’m a horror-freak. It showed so many horror movies on tv and Netflix. Christmas’ other good holidays I enjoyed. Who doesn’t love presents :D
9. What's the hardest part about writing for you? The benefits?
The waiting time from submission to either acceptance or rejection was the worst. I’d be obsessively checking my email every single day. The editing stage can be hard because I’ll be reading the same manuscript hundred times. Sending it out to public is also hard too because I’d worry what if the readers didn’t like it. What if it sucked. I’m pretty sure it’s the same to some of other authors :)
10. Now just a few multiple choice questions: (you can take them any way you like)
Rock, country or classical? Country and Rock
Giraffe or monkey? Definitely Monkey :D
Tea or coffee? It depends on my mood but if I have to pick, it’d be tea
Who would win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? I’m rooting for the werewolves :D The furry the better. ;D
Series or one-shot? I like both. It depends on how well the authors did their series.
Beach or mountains? Mountains
Eyes or smile? Eyes
Cowboys or rockstars? (yeah, I have to ask)Hard one! Cowboys r hot when they’re hairy. Rockstars are hot because of the eyeliners. Yum!
11. Finally, tell us about your next release or what you're working on now.
My next release date will be on January 23 from Less Than Three’s Kiss at Midnight collection. It’s a short cross-dresser finding his happy ending. My other release date will be on April 19 from Storm Moon Press’s Queer Fear anthology involving a demon character. :D I’m currently working on a sequel to Rusty’s Surprise, a new zombie project and several muse ideas I need to deal with LOL
I’m offering a giveaway to one winner. Right now I can only offer Rusty’s Surprise, Zombie Rain and upcoming release False Assumptions.
Rusty’s Surprise Blurb:
Rusty is excited for Valentine's Day: he has a couple of surprises in mind for his lover that he knows will do much more than please; everything from sweet to kinky to ensure a memorable holiday. Locked away in their basement for a night of uninterrupted fun, they miss a surprise of an entirely different nature …
Zombie Rain Blurb:
Jake's world is torn apart when his son dies, killed by a little girl who has infected him with a strange disease. Soon, Jake's entire hometown is overtaken by the disease. A disease that turns them into flesh-craving monsters. The combination of tragedy and horror is almost more than Jake can take, but then he meets Rex, a man who has been struggling through the horror in search of more survivors. The two men travel together, searching for answers and other survivors, the growing bond between them the only bright light in their dark world.
But then that light is taken brutally away, and Jake is left struggling to find it again, fighting against insurmountable odds and growing despair ...
False Assumptions Blurb:
Joss has been in love with his best friend, the one man who accepts him for what he is—pumps and all—for years. But Gus has never shown interest in anything but friendship, and Joss would do anything, even suffer in silence, to avoid jeopardizing what they already have. Release date January 21,2013 from Less Than Three Press.
Thanks for stopping by Zach. *smooches* J

ZACH SWEETS bio
Zach, an army brat, was born in El Paso, TX, and has lived in North Carolina, Germany, Kansas, California, and the District of Columbia, before graduating from University of Baltimore in May 2010, with a degree in Applied Information Technology. He now resides in Arizona, where he moved to start a new adventure with his partner and dog.
In his spare time, Zach enjoys reading, mainly horror. He enjoys doing outdoor activities, and he runs on a daily basis. He participates in charitable running events, from 5k up to marathon distances.
Zach writes as often as he can and likes to push himself with writing challenges. Joining the M/M Romance group on Goodreads.com has immensely boosted his motivation to become a successful Deaf author, writing about man to man love, with some horror thrown in for good measure.
When he is not writing or reading, Zach likes to practice his web design and development skills. He loves to hang out with love of his life as often as he can, finding things to do inside and outside the house, whether it be yard work, hiking, bike riding, walking their dog, eating out at a cozy diner, or just loving.
You can check out Zach's website, share books with Zach on Goodreads, follow Zach on Twitter, or friend Zach on Facebook.
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Zach's giveaway for a copy of one of his backlist books will be open from December 3-6. Leave your comment, name and email address for your chance to win. A winner will be announced on this thread on December 7.

William Neale Christmas interview repost...because I miss him.

This is a repost of my interview with William Neale last year.We lost Bill this year but he's still very much in my heartand I definitely missed him and his sweet presence at GRL.I wanted to pay a little tribute to how awesome he was so if you didn't read it last year, take a look.I hope you enjoy William's words and if you haven't already done sotake some time to read one of his books, you won't be disappointed.(there's no give-away, I've just posted it AS IS) ♡ K-lee
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I’m very pleased to have William Neale on my blog today. I met William at GayRomLit and he instantly made me feel at ease with his soft, calm voice and warm, sparkling eyes. William had a holiday story, “Christmasing With You,” released at MLR Press on November 20 and it’s a story you have to read with a box of tissues nearby.
Welcome, William. I have to tell you that meeting and speaking with you was a definite high point for me in New Orleans. Thank you for making me feel so included. J

1.     How did you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer?
First, thank you for having me here today. It’s an honor. And meeting you and that beautiful smile of yours at GayRomLit was an equal pleasure.
To your question, I’ve been a writer pretty much all my life—just not as a romance author. I spent almost thirty years in corporate life as a marketing and communications executive and always had the dream of one day finding time to write the stories that kept knocking on the door of my imagination. Finally, I reached a point in my career that allowed me to pursue some dreams, writing being at the top of the list.
2.     What were your early influences either in this genre or any other?
Depends on what you call early. I had a library card before I entered elementary school and growing up, always loved stories with strong plots and characters who weren’t afraid to express emotion. When I decided to try my hand at writing romance, I first did quite a bit of research. Before I wrote a single word, I probably read over one hundred m/m romance books by many of the top authors in the genre. I made notes along the way about the elements that made each strong, so I guess you could say that I had many influences. I even made correlations between the best stories and their publishers and found a lot of consistency: only a handful of publishers were putting out what I considered the strongest books. That’s why I eventually sent my first novel to MLR Press and—thank them and the literary gods—they accepted it.
3.     What is the hardest part about writing for you?
Finding time. I still have a day job as a consultant/advisor in the marketing field. Then there’s my partner who likes to see me occasionally. And two dogs who consider me Mr. Mom. And a big old historic house that always needs something fixed. So I’m usually found at my writing desk very early in the mornings and late at night. Sleep? It’s over-rated.

4.     Does any one of your books hold a special place in your heart more so than the others?

I think you and other authors might agree that your first published book is pretty much akin to your first love. My first, a book called “HOME,” will always be my favorite. And even though I now wince at some of its first-time-author flaws, it still continues to sell very well.
5.     Tell us a little about your Christmas book. It’s a very emotional story; did you sniffle a little when you wrote it?
I had more than a few sniffles. First, a little background. Back in the 1970’s The Carpenters came out with a song called “Merry Christmas, Darling.” It is now a holiday standard. But from the get-go it brought tears to my eyes. I never knew the real story behind this song so I used it as inspiration to make up my own. Briefly, it’s about a man who lost his long-time partner to a brutal crime and is now facing his first Christmas alone. Don’t worry – you’ll be smiling (and maybe crying) for him by the story’s end. I think I enjoyed writing this more than anything else I’ve published, tissues notwithstanding. It just appeals to that sappy sentimental side of me that finds no shame in crying and smiling at the same time.
6.     Do you have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cup of coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)
Well, I prefer writing when my dogs are not howling and my partner is not shouting from one floor below, “Hon, can you come here for a minute?” But beyond that I am pretty flexible and easy-going. (Don’t ask about my many other flaws!) I even do some of my best writing on airplanes during business travel and have had more than a few amused moments when I realize the person sitting next to me is reading every word I write.
7.     Do you have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don’t like to read and can’t see yourself ever writing?
I like to think I’m a pretty non-judgmental and open-minded guy but I tend to stay away from reading or writing stuff I wouldn’t do or fantasize about in my personal life.  Or, that which pushes legal boundaries or extreme social taboos. That’s not to say that I’ll never write—for example—a story involving leather, whips, and chains. But I’d probably first need to visit the local leather bars to interview some of the patrons.  (Purely for research purposes, of course.) But boy, that would require some major “splaining” to my partner.
8.     Being one of only a handful of men in a sea of female m/m writers, do you think your thoughts and experiences make your books more realistic to the genre or is fiction just fiction? Also, do you put a lot of yourself into your books?
I occasionally receive e-mails from gay men readers who tell me they want and appreciate a male perspective. But I honestly think that’s pretty much a hunk of baloney. Give me two good m/m books written by one male and one female and I’ll likely not be able to tell you which one was written by the woman. Occasionally, I’ll come across a sex scene where it’s clear the writer has never had that particular experience. But, I’ve seen that in books authored by either gender. I’ll conclude with just saying that most of my favorite m/m romance books were written by women.And do I put a lot of myself in my books? Of course. But as I have patiently tried to make my friends understand, none of my characters are me. They simply reflect the places, people, and experiences I’ve known over the course of a lifetime. It’s cliché to say “write what you know,” but as most writers will agree, it’s nonetheless true.
9.     What’s next on your plate? What are you working on?
MLR Press will release my next book, “Always Faithful,” later this month.  While it’s a sequel to “A New Normal,” the story stands alone without need to read the first book. (But there’s no penalty for buying both!) Here’s a brief blurb:
When Cade and Mark said their vows it was for always and forever. But that was before Mark entered the Marine Corps and before Cade enrolled in college. Four years later, with Mark’s impending discharge and Cade’s graduation, they’re seemingly ready to finally have a long-awaited life together. Their hot and passionate attraction to each other remains as strong as ever. But their long separation has changed both men. And even the strongest of marriages can be threatened by temptation, suspicion, and broken promises. Can their love survive? Or, will they discover that “always” does not always mean faithful?
One of my other big projects is serving as one of the organizers of the GayRomLit Retreat.  It’s the only major event planned entirely for bringing together authors and readers of m/m romance fiction.  We are working hard on the program and agenda for next year’s Retreat in Albuquerque at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, October 18-21. Registration opens in either late January or early February at GayRomLit.com. But, you can get a sneak peak by visiting the site now. We’re expecting around 300-400 authors and readers this year so I’d suggest registering early to make sure you’ll get in before registration is closed.
10. Finally – a few quick choices:
a.     Coffee or tea - Coffeeb.     Dog or cat - Dogc.      Beach or mountains - Beachd.     Pecs or abs - Pecse.     Smile or eyes - Eyesf.      Cowboys or rockstars - Cowboysg.     Who would win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? And why. –Both. Since vampires tend to be loners or couples and werewolves tend to be pack animals, usually a single vampire will lose to the wolves. But if Vlad calls up some blood-sucking friends, then it’ll be an epic battle probably won by the immortals.  My favorite vampires and shapeshifters, however, are lovers, not fighters.

William has generously offered up a copy of his holiday story, “Christmasing With You,” to one lucky commenter. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT. J
If you don’t win, you can pick it up at MLR Press Christmasing with you
Be sure to check out William’s website for information on how to buy his other books, too. William Neale

December is Author Month on my blog...

Yes - yes, it is.I have some awesome authors stopping by to begrilled during December, much as I did last year. I don't have a schedule yet and not sure I will - it's more of a first come, first serviced thing.Some authors will be doing give-aways so you need to tune in.
I'm starting with a repeat post from last year- Mr. William Neale did me the honour of being interviewedand since I still miss him, he'll be my first. I haven't been approached to do my own interview yet but I was thinking it would be cool if anyone wanted to interview Gabe & Matteo from Countdown to Daddies since they have a new book coming out in December? If you're interested, let me know.

If you want to check out last year's interviews, here's the link:CHRISTMAS INTERVIEWS 2011
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In other news, I officially finished NaNoWriMo with just over 60,000 words but my cowboys are at 62,000 and still talking. :)

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Finally, a few (I swear it's only a few for today - no promises later though ;P)pictures of my favourite country singer, kick-some-ass-actor. Happy Saturday everyone.

Insomnia, a review, random news & music

Not sleeping more than 3 or 4 hrs a night (with sleeping pills) is taking its toll but I'm pressing on to stay productive. I've been dealing with sleep issues for 10 years so it's really nothing new, just a little worse than usual right now. Recently I've been trying to set a goal every day since that at least makes me feel productive. My goal for today is to get to 60k on my cowboys - 2300 written so far and 300 to go and Christian Kane's drawling away on iTunes, offering his usual inspiration. ;)
Happy Insomniac Thursday. ;/

In the good news department, I received a really awesome 5/5 star review for Domestic Relations a couple weeks ago that I thought I'd share. DR hasn't gotten many reviews yet so this one made my day. :) And I swear I don't often post the entire review but today, I'm going to make an exception because it makes me smile and sleepy smiles are always a good thing.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS - review by Sammy at Jessewave
Link

Review Summary: Running from the past is never easy, particularly when it means you may lose the one thing you value most–the love of your life. Blurb: Life has thrown a lot at Riley, most of it bad. But Riley is nothing if not stubborn, and though it left scars, he’s managed to break free of the worst of his life. Not all of his problems are gone, but life is certainly better than it’s ever been. Most of that is due to his boyfriend Josh, the best thing that life has given him, and Riley will do anything to keep hold of him.But when past and present collide, and the problems become too much for Riley to contain or control, Josh is the very thing he stands most to lose …Review: Sometimes we start down a path and realize that finishing the course of it may very well lose us the very things we set out to save. Riley has a terrible secret and his partner Josh knows that something is causing his lover’s life to unravel but can only hope that somehow Riley will trust him enough to come clean.While Josh suspects everything from an affair to the possibility of Riley leaving him outright, he tenaciously hangs on and weathers the worst storm of their six year relationship. With Josh’s amazing support, Riley is finally able to put his nightmare of a past behind him and fully confess to Josh all the secrets that have become the nightmare he is living.Domestic Relations is the story of two up and coming hotshot lawyers, who also happen to be best friends and lovers. At the onset, there is an obvious tension that pervades their lives and it is all due to the secrets Riley has been keeping from Josh.K-lee Klein once again proves herself to be the queen in writing love stories that are not only grounded in reality but so well done that you automatically want to reach for her next novel without hesitation. This author has the uncanny gift of making fiction come alive, writing story lines that are plausible, and creating characters that are real, living, breathing people on the page.As I followed the turmoil that Riley’s decisions and secrets produced in both himself and Josh, I was once more swept up into the fictional lives of two men who more than once stole my heart and made me gnash my teeth in frustration. I clutched my kindle in despair when it seemed that this relationship was doomed and sighed with relief when Josh (who I secretly want to marry) gave Riley yet one more chance to confess and bring their partnership back on track.This is the tell-tell sign of excellent writing–that it grabs us up and hurls us unflinchingly into the story and carries us along to the last words on the page. Oh dear reader–this one is a keeper!But of course, the choice is, as always, yours to make. Surely you need just a bit more drama in your life? Well, if that is the case then I highly recommend Domestic Relations by K-Lee Klein to you.~*~*~I was completely flattered and a more than a little flabbergasted but damn, it felt awesome.


Last week I took baby boy (baby boy who just turned 20) for his first tattoo. ;) He got seismic lines (basically that's what it is) from the Joy Division album Unknown Pleasures. Looks pretty cool for his first one. 
Wonder if he'll get addicted like his mama. (<-- see right there -that word, mama, I don't use that word. Been writing cowboys way too long I think - and I have a different cowboy story up next) I also received a couple of things in the mail over the past week - first my copies of Private Dicks: Undercovers. Yays. I'm still in love with my P.I. & the Rockstar story. Cover's beautiful, right? 
Yesterday I got my WWKD sweatshirt and iPhone cover delivered. Awesome! (What Would Kane Do)

Since people are starting to think about Christmas - I offer up Santa Eliot (season 3) for you shopping ideas. I think he'll have a long line-up to sit on his lap.
Finally, some beautiful inspiration. Love the scruff and shadows in this picture.

MUSIC: One of the Christian Kane songs that tends to go on a loop a lot during the day when I'm writing. The song doesn't really go that well with the video but there's some nice Eliot (Christian) clips. And yeah, I love love songs when I'm writing. :)



This one is Making Circles - more Leverage clips and some others. The sigh at the end kills me. :)

And finally just beautiful words, voice and music. Love this song.

Christian Kane pic spam #1 - you were warned

As promised and more for myself than anyone else... Christian Kane pic spam. Enjoy. :)
(and yep, there will be more)

































Okay, that was fun - at least for me.Was going to post a couple videos too, but I guess this is long enough.But I will do it later in the week. J

Blog Update Fail, Christian Kane & an excerpt

<--- Yeah, what he said? Can't believe it's almost a month since I've updated but it seems like the longer I leave it the bigger the issue of updating gets in my head. It ends up being this really overwhelming thing that it totally shouldn't be. It's just an issue I have that I obviously need to work on.

*takes deep breath* Okay. Hey! How you doing? I'm back and hopefully will stay that way. Actually I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of action on this blog once December rolls around since I have something up my proverbial sleeve. But I won't share that just yet.

I hope everyone had a good U.S. Thanksgiving - I say that because I'm Canadian and ours was way back in October. I've been busying writing - yay - and my accomplishment for the month, other than staying reasonably sane, is that I finished my NaNoWriMo ten days early. I worked my ass off and if you know anything about me, you know I'm not all that disciplined with my writing, but this month I even amazed myself. The story I worked on is the sequel to Finally Home - my first pubbed story that's almost one year old - and at the moment it's sitting at 56,000 words and still not finished. I'm enjoying my cowboys and they're turned me back to the only country singer I really like because they insist we listen to him over and over and over. Lol. Some days I have one song on loop for the whole day but it fuels my writing. Another big help has been doing writing sprints with some people on Facebook. It's awesome motivation and support.


But back to the only country singer I like - the fabulous Christian Kane. He's also the awesome Eliot Spencer on the show Leverage and if you haven't watched yet, you just have to. It's such a great show - drama, humour, Christian (I mean Eliot)  hitting people. Lol. Yeah, at the moment Christian and Eliot are my big addiction/obsessions. I always have one, an obsession I mean, whether it lasts a month or a year. But as I tell my family, it's not hurting anyone and if it gives me inspiration and feeds my muse (my cowboy muse at the moment) it's all good.



 So you're going to get a little pic spam at the bottom of this post and maybe even a little video of Christian doing his thing. (EDIT - I'm doing a separate post because I just have too many damn pics I want to post.) Christian isn't a new love though. He was on the show Angel as Lindsey McDonald and that's when I discovered his music as well. I've been an official Kaniac for some time now. :) (Oh and yeah, Christian cut his hair this season but he's the same amount of beautiful - hair or not)

In other news, I have a new release coming out on December 16 from MLR Press - the sequel to Countdown to Daddies which is called Countdown to Santa. Gabe, Matteo and the twins are back and hopefully everyone who liked the first story will like this one too. It's longer and a little angsty but you know I always have to have my HEA. I finished the galley proofs on the weekend and the cover is almost done too. Once I have it in my hot little hands - or in my email - I'll post a pic.

I have a ton of other stories on my plate at the moment too. You can see them all on the right side of the page - over there --> but I'm really trying to get Josiah and Wyatt done before I dig into the rest again. I've never been able to focus on just one story for so long before so I'm just going with it. I actually have another country story in the works for a submission call and there is heavy inspiration from my current obsession in that one. Good old country boy, you know.

The two stories have something in common too - that being a very strong mama figure. Here's a little scene between Wyatt and his mama from Home on the Ranch 2 (which still has no title by the way - I'm wondering if since the first one was called Finally Home but didn't use the series name in the title, maybe I can just call this one Home on the Ranch). Anyhow, if you read Finally Home you met Wyatt's mama who is a very strong woman and she's just as strong and awesome, in my opinion, in this one.

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"Home on the Ranch 2" - excerpt (unedited)
Wyatt stepped out of the barn just in time to see Josiah's truck slip and slide up the driveway and away from the house. Taking his cowboy hat off, he stroked a hand through his hair and gnawed his bottom lip between his teeth, sucking a little on the cut that had been stinging all morning. Just where in the hell was Josiah going in such a hurry at eight in the morning? He racked his brain for an explanation that might have slipped his mind but came up empty. He'd just headed back to the barn when the sound of another vehicle caught his attention. He turned, smile turning to a frown when he saw it wasn't Josiah's truck this time. Crossing the distance to the old Jeep Cherokee , he opened the driver's door and reached out a hand to help his mama out.
"Well that was the most unwelcoming look I've ever been greeted with." Nonetheless, she smiled as Wyatt leaned down to kiss her cheek. "If that's the kind of mood you're in then it's no wonder I just saw Josiah hightailing it out of here."
"Good morning, Mama, and I'd say my mood is directly related to the man you just saw spinning his wheels to get away from me." He paused, rubbing his gloved hands together and walking side-by-side to the house with his mama. "Kinda early in the morning for a visit, isn't it?"
Flora Aames stopped mid-step, hands on her parked hips. "Nathaniel Wyatt Aames." As soon as she used his full name, Wyatt knew he was a goner. "Is that how I raised you, young man?" Oh hell, he was getting the full name and young man treatment. 
He hung his head and took her arm, leading her to the warmth of the house. "No, ma'am. I apologize. Why don't we go have a cup of coffee and you can enlighten me with more of the ways I've gone astray."
"Damn straight."
Wyatt shook his head and gave his mama a little hip bump. She was so freaking cool.

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Okay. I promise to be back soon. I leave you with a classic Eliot Spencer quote. My Christian Kane pic spam post will follow this one if you're interested. ;)





Found this on Tumblr - perfect.

Hurricane Sandy Relief - Story auction listing

The lovely Piper Vaughn over at Babes in Boyland has started a project to auction off original stories in exchange for donations to assist with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. I'm one of the author taking part along with 18 other authors.

I'm pasting my listing for you to have a look at, as well as the links for my page and the rules for the auctions. Have a boo at the other authors involved, too - and if you can help out, make a donation. :)

Story Auction Rules

Auction Listing - K-lee Klein


LISTING
Closes: 11/9/2012, 7PM CST. (Any bids posted after that time will not be counted.)

Author: K-Lee Klein
Offering: One story, dedicated to the winning bidder. Winner can offer up to four different suggestions of what they would like to see included (i.e., friends-to-lovers theme, hurt-comfort, a specific scene, sex act, etc.) I will include at least one but possibly all. Winner can also provide six names and I will pick my favorites for the main characters. (Note: I won’t reuse any names I’ve used already or names already in my current WIPs.) Optional: Picture inspiration is definitely encouraged.

Genres I’m willing to write in: M/M - Contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, historical (ancient Greece or Rome) 
Length: No less than 5000 words.
To be delivered: Within 90 days of: 1) Receipt of proof of donation; 2) Receipt of information requested above (genre, names, etc.).
Restrictions: Once provided to winner, I reserve the right to post the story on various sites for free distribution. I will not write dub/non-con, character torture, pedophilia, snuff, scat play, golden showers, etc. I’m not very familiar with BDSM, and so would prefer not to include that in the story, but I will if asked. :)