K-lee Klein's Blog: Chaos in the Moonlight , page 26

December 22, 2011

Happy 3 day before Christmas!

Happy 3 days before Christmas! I hope you all have your shopping and wrapping done - me, not so much. I also hope you've enjoyed the amazing authors I rounded up to entertain you over the past couple of weeks. Alas, all good things must come to an end though (and some of us have to finish our shopping). BUT if you tune in tomorrow, I'll have a special (pseudo-special perhaps) interview. Oh and did I mention that my book comes out in 5 days??!! *squees and bounces*
See y'all tomorrow.
PS if you have any questions you might like this *coughs* author to answer tomorrow, leave them in a comment. (and yes, it is me)


*keep you panties on, I'll be back tomorrow*

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Published on December 22, 2011 07:07

December 21, 2011

Author Jeff Erno interview and give-away


My last guest on my interview/give-awaytheme is Jeff Erno (except for perhaps a surprise interview). Jeff has written 10+ books and has quickly become a m/mreaders' favorite with his ability to push the boundaries in his stories, aswell as bringing out strong emotionality in both his characters and readers.Jeff has a new book, Second Chances,coming out on January 1, 2012.
Welcome, Jeff. I hope you find myquestions both stimulating and interesting, and have a little fun at the sametime. J

1.    Howdid you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer? It had been mylifelong dream to write and publish a novel. I fell in love with reading when Iwas in elementary school and started writing short stories when I was in juniorhigh. After graduating high school, my life took a different direction. I spentseveral years caring for family members who were ill, and then suddenly I wasalone. It was the lowest point in my life, and I turned to the only thing Iknew to do in order to cope with the grief. I wrote … and wrote… and wrote. Ihad a very dear friend named Jason who was the world to me. He helped methrough the darkness, and he ordered me to make a list of reasons to live. Mybucket list. He told me to include everything I wanted to do before I die. Icame up with 20 things, the first of which was to get my Bachelor's degree.Number two was to publish one of my stories as a novel. Number three was learna foreign language. I became obsessed with the list and started knocking itemsoff. I now have my degree, speak fluent Spanish, and have published ten novels.Jason passed away three years ago to cancer.
2.    Whatwere your early influences either in this genre or any other?The first stories thatI shared with others were erotic stories that I posted on the nifty archive.There has only been one other author I'm aware of who started out like this,and that author was Bobby Michaels. Before I became aware of mm fiction I read a lot of gay fiction. DavidLeavitt, Armistead Maupin, K.M. Soehnlein, Christopher Rice… the list is long.I also read a lot of mainstream fiction.

      3.    Whatis the hardest part about writing for you?      Writer's block. I'veread several interviews with authors who claim that writer's block is not real.They say it is just laziness or a lack of research. They're full of shit, in myopinion. Writer's block is very real. Writing is not like doing the laundry.You can't decide when you wake up in the morning that you are going to completeX number of words and then just sit down and write them. Some days you will beable to write 20 thousand words and other days not a one. This is frustratingto me, but it's the nature of art.
     4.    Doesany one of your books hold a special place in your heart more so than theothers?It's difficult for meto think of my stories as commodities.  AlthoughI love and appreciate my readers, I'm not thinking about what they want whileI'm writing. I'm not thinking about what will sell and what won't sell. That'sthe job of a publisher. My writing comes from my heart, and I don't write anythingthat doesn't have meaning to me. My sincerest hope is that readers will relateto my stories and will buy them because their hearts have been touched orbecause they've been entertained or aroused. I could go through my entirebacklist and tell you why each one of my books holds a special place in myheart. Probably if I had to choose just one, it would be Trust Me. Several ofthe experiences that the central character, Shawn, goes through were takendirectly from my own life.  5.    Tellus a little about your new release, SecondChances. Is it part of a series or a stand-alone?Second Chances is asci-fi thriller. Billionaire insurance mogul Harold Wainwright is dying ofcancer when offered an opportunity to live again. His consciousness istransferred to the mind of an 18 year old and he gets a chance to live lifeagain. In his previous life, Harold had rejected love and romance and had livedwith a focus upon monetary success. Now he has a new identity—that of JesseWarren—and he must decide if he is going to do things differently this time.
6.    Doyou have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cupof coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)I can't have musicplaying or the television on when I'm writing. When I'm very focused on aparticular manuscript, I hole up in a room without distraction and concentrateonly on the story. I do drink a lot of coffee and tea—always have a beverage.
7.    Isthere any theme you haven't written yet that you really want to, a subject orsub-genre – paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.?I now have anelectronic notebook where I record story ideas. The notebook contains severaltabs which each represent a different, unwritten story. When the ideas come tome, I sketch out a synopsis and record it in the notebook. Many of these storyideas are vastly different than anything I have written so far. I plan to do afuturistic/dystopian story, a paranormal, and lots more BDSM.
      8.    You'vewritten some emotionally charged books that deal with very current issuesaffecting gay men and teens. Do you find that you put a lot of yourself in yourbooks – your experiences, things you've seen – or is fiction just fiction?Without exception, allof my stories have been inspired by events, people, or experiences of my ownlife. While writing Trust Me, I drew from childhood experiences, with Dumb JockI revisited my teen years, for Puppy Love I used experiences from a very realD/s relationship I was in for four years, and the Landlord was inspired byfeelings and fantasies I had while renting an apartment from a really hot,young landlord. I recently wrote a guest blog where I explained that the issueof bullying is important to me because of my own experiences being bullied, andthis is why I wrote Bullied.


9.    What'snext on your plate? What are you working on? In February, ExtasyBooks will be releasing the first book of a series I've titled The Men's Room.Book one is called Twinsational, and it is the story of twin go-go dancers whowork at a New Orleans night club. The remainder of the series will highlightcharacters from that same bar. Book Two is called Cocktails and is a work inprogress. The focus will be the relationship of the bartenders at the Men'sRoom. I expect the series to be a minimum of six books.
10.  Finally – a few quick choices:a.    Coffeeor tea – icedteab.    Dogor cat – cat(Gandolf)c.    Beachor mountains - beachd.    Pecsor abs - pecse.    Smileor eyes - smilef.     Cowboysor rockstars – cowboys, no contest!g.    Whowould win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? And why. – Vampires.Haven't you read the Twilight series??
Jeff has generously offered up a IOU fora copy of his new release, "SecondChances," due out on January 1, to one lucky commenter. BE SURE TOINCLUDE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.
CONTEST WILL RUN FROM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER21 TO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23.
Be sure to checkout Jeff's website Jeff Erno for all his latest news.
Second Chances (blurb)
Harold Wainwright is dying. At seventy-nine, stricken with cancer, thebillionaire insurance mogul has much to regret. In his youth he rejected hisonly true love, Jacob, because the young artist was distracting him from thepursuit of wealth and success. Now Harold is alone, rich beyond his wildestdreams … and his life is over.
Doctor Timothy Drayton has found a way to prolong human life. He has createda computer chip that can be implanted into the human brain, allowingconsciousness to be transferred from a dying patient into the mind of a donorsubject.
Jesse Warren is eighteen years old. He's a track star, modelstudent, and the typical all-American kid. Then tragedy strikes. After aterrible accident, Jesse is pronounced brain dead. His devastated family isecstatic when Dr. Drayton offers a "new treatment" for brain injury. Convincedthat God has sent a miracle, the Warrens are overjoyed when their son wakesfrom his coma. They hope he will eventually recover from amnesia.
But the real Jesse is gone, hisconsciousness replaced by Harold Wainwright's. Will Harold make the samemistakes this time around? Or will he take advantage of this rare second chanceto find the love 
that was missing from his former life?

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Published on December 21, 2011 05:00

December 20, 2011

Author James Buchanan interview and give-away


I'm very excited to welcome JamesBuchanan to my blog today. James is the author of a whole ton of m/m books andwas also one of the first authors I read in the genre. Witty, hot and totallysexy is how I would describe James' characters (especially the lovely goth boythat I won't mention here :P). James has a holiday story, Light Me Up, coming out with MLR Press on December 29.
Welcome, James. I hope you find myquestions both interesting and stimulating. J
1.     Howdid you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer?
Idon't remember a time when I wasn't writing. I was pretty sick as a kid, in thehospital a lot and at a time when kids' TV was 2 hours in the morning and PBSat noon. I stared making up stories. I was on the literary magazines in Highsand College. There was a black period in my life, while I was trapped in anabusive relationship, where I didn't write at all. But over the past decade,I've gotten back into it.
Myfirst published work was a short story called The Darkness which came out in 2005. I had submitted it to ananthology and it was a little long. But I got a note back from the editorsaying the only reason it didn't get in was because of the length. She thendirected me to the publisher who ended up taking it. I had tried my hand atsome M/F erotica…but no one liked my female characters.
2.     Whatwere your early influences either in this genre or any other?
Writinggenerally: Ray Bradbury and H.P. Lovecraft would be the two biggest, but allthe big Sci-Fi greats. H.P. because he was just so freaky. Bradbury had thisincredible way with words. I can still quote passages from his books and theyfeel almost physical.Inthis genre: The Man who Fell in Love withthe Moon by Tom Spanbauer  (http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Fell-Love-Moon/dp/0060974974). I love, love, love this books Also Longhornsby Victor Banis.
     3.     Whatis the hardest part about writing for you?
Isuck with deadlines. You want to kill me, tell me I have to have a piece doneby such and such date. It sucks the creativity right out ot my mind. I feed offramdom plot bunnies…My brain breeds plot bunnies and I farm them out to otherpeople. I'll see an AIDS awareness poster with a guy screwing a scorpion andthink, "Oh yeah, I have to write a were-scorpion."
4.     Doesany one of your books hold a special place in your heart more so than theothers?
My Brother Coyote (a novella now only available inprint in the Shadow Harvest Collection). That book pushed me in a lot ofways…it's very speculative fiction and deals with a lot of Navajo mythology.It's my favourite.
5.     Tellus a little about your new release, LightMe Up.  Is there some specificinspiration behind it? Is it a stand-alone or part of one of your series?
It'sinstallment 1.5 of The Deputy Joenovels (Hard Fall and Spin Out). It started as a little,incomplete drabble for Christmas on my website. I decided to expand it, putmore depth into the story and give readers a treat to see the relationshipbetween Joe and Kabe through Kabe's eyes.
6.     Doyou have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cupof coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)
Ijust have to write. I can't not write. I'd go nuts. I'll be sitting in court,waiting for a hearing, and scribbling bits of dialog and descriptions. Therehave been times when I'm driving and I have to pull out a pad of paper and jotdown a thought. I find that if you have all these "things" that must be "inplace" to write…you'll never write. The temperature will be wrong or yourcoffee too cold.
     7.     Doyou have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don't like to read andcan't see yourself ever writing?
No,not particularly. I won't finish a book if I don't like the characters orsomething is off about the writing, but there's nothing I wouldn't try if thestory sounded good. Likewise, if the germ of an idea hit me, I wouldn't backoff from writing it if it were outside of my current comfort zone.
     8.     You'vewritten in a few different genres within m/m romance, do you have a favorite oris there one you haven't written that's just niggling at your brain to do so?
I'dlike to write a true comedy – in a novel. I can write funny and comedic bitsinto stories or funny short stories, but I haven't managed to keep the humor upthrough more than a really long short story.
9.     Whatcan we expect next from you? Are you already working on something else?
Iam working on books 3, 4 and 5 of the DeputyJoe novels. I also have a paranormal, scorpion-shifter (you read the thingabout the AIDS prevention ad) that I promised my publisher.
10.  Finally– a few quick choices:
a.    Coffee or tea — Intravenous caffeine in any liquid form, except thoseoverpriced energy drinks.
b.    Dog or cat — Cats.  Dogs, to me, are way too needy. I can't stand my own spawn beingoverly needy. Drives me bananas to have something that wants my attention"RIGHT NOW or it will diiiiiiiieeeeee of inanition". Not that I dislike dogs,we have three, but they bug me more than our two cats.
c.    Beach or mountains — Yes.  I love theoutdoors. We go to the      beach a lot in summer (benefit of living in SouthernCalifornia) whether it's to hang out on the sand or ride bikes on the beachpaths. I also like to hike the mountain trails near my home. You can bestanding on a ridge, looking at the Los Angeles downtown skyline framed by theocean in the background and all you hear is the wind and the wildlife. Plus,almost every year, we go to Bryce Canyon where my guy's folks live…6,300 feet abovesea level on the       edge of the Kodachrome basin. I guess it's just I like nature,I       live in the city because of my evil day job, but my guy and I always discusshow, when we pay off enough debt (like law student loans) how we want to movesome place far more rural.
d.    Pecs or abs — Butts with divots
e.    Smile or eyes — Smiling eyes
f.     Cowboys or rockstars — Cowboys. Rockstars have too many issues.
g.    Who would win in a fight – vampires orwerewolves? And why. — TheHybrid. Haven't you seen Underworld Evolution?

One lucky commenterto this post will win an ebook of their choice from James' backlist. BE SURETO PUT YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENT.
CONTEST WILL RUNUNTIL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22.
And be sure to pic up James' new holiday story, Light Me Up, available December 29 at MLR PRESS
To find out more about all the fabulous books James haswritten go here à James Buchanan
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Published on December 20, 2011 04:46

December 19, 2011

Author S.J. Frost interview and give-away



Myblog guest today has written a couple of my favorite series ever and has beenvery inspirational to me in the rockstar genre, as well as being one of the keyfactors in my road to my first publication. S.J. Frost has written 5 books inthe Conquest series (❤), 2 in theInstincts series and a variety of other stories. She has a holiday releasecoming out on Christmas Day with MLR Press – Beautiful Harmony – that I'm really excited about but I'll let hertell you why. J
Welcome,S.J.! I'm very happy to have you here. Are you ready to be grilled? J

Hey, K-lee! Thank you so much for having me here! I'mtotally ready to chat and have a good time!
1.    How did you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always wantto be a writer? It's funny, because I actuallywrote a gay romance before realizing I'd written one. Very confusing, I know.But you see, when I wrote my first novel, Conquest, all I thought was that I'dwritten a romance novel about two people in love. It just so happened those twopeople were both gay men. It wasn't until after I started shopping around for apublisher and realized "traditional" romance publishers weren't very friendlyto gay content that I began to learn more about the m/m genre as a whole. Ifelt like I'd found where I was always meant to be as a writer.And yep, I've wanted to be awriter for as long as I can remember. Storytelling, even before I knew how towrite, was always part of my life. When I was little, I would make up storiesfor myself, and as I got older, I began putting them to paper, which made iteven more fun. Now there's nothing better than to be able to share my storieswith my readers.2.    What were your early influences either in this genre or any other?My early influences actuallycame from the fantasy genre, since originally, I thought I'd want to be afantasy author. And there's still a desire in me to break into that genre someday.But the fantasy genre has been more open to homosexuality in books thatprobably any other, and it was there that I read my first book ever with a gaycharacter, Mercedes Lackey's The Last Herald Mage Trilogy (Magic's Pawn,Magic's Promise, Magic's Price). I felt true sympathy and care for the maincharacter, Vanyel Ashkevron, and to this day, he has a special place in myheart.    3.    What is the hardest part about writing for you? The benefits?Finding the time to do it.That's really the hardest part for me. My life is packed pretty full, butbecause I love writing so much, I really try to set time aside to do it. Iprefer to run short on sleep than on words. When it comes to the actualwriting process, probably one of the hardest things for me is never knowingwhat I'm going to get by the time The End rolls around. I'm afly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of author. But it's exciting too, because I'mlearning the story as I go.The greatest benefit of beingan author is all the people I get to meet. Readers, other authors, people inthe industry. I appreciate everyone, especially my readers. Nothing makes myday like getting an email from someone saying they've enjoyed one of my books.It's more special than words can ever describe to know someone took time out oftheir day to read my work and share their thoughts with me. 4.    Tell us a little about your Christmas story."Beautiful Harmony" is a shortstory, about 10k words, that will feature a couple characters readers of myprevious work may recognize, Kyler Christenson and Robbie Russo from the novel,Black Heart Down. It takes place a few months after the end of that book andshows 
everyone where Ky and Robbie are in their relationship as they share theirfirst Christmas in their home. 
It's a steamy little story, but also sweet. Avery special gift is given, 
but I have to plead evil author privilege and notsay what that is ;-)
5.    Do you have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing acertain way, cup  of coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc) I don't have any particularquirks for actually writing. I do prefer total silence, but I can work aroundit. I used to always eat peanut M&M's while writing, but I don't do thatanymore. But I guess I do have a quirk for after I finish a story. I'llobsessively read it over, re-work it and tweak it until my editor forces me toturn it in. Then I'll usually cling for another day or two before I can let itgo. Oh, and I'll continue to obsessively tweak it all the way up through thefinal galley. Yeah, it's mental. Fortunately, my editor is very patient withme.
   6.    Do you have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don't liketo read and can't see yourself ever writing?It really depends on the book.I'm a pretty easy reader and tend to give authors a lot of creative license. Thereare some things I don't like; abuse of children or animals, cheating andabusive relationships. But it also depends on what the author is trying to get across.Are they trying to do good and spread awareness? Are they treating thesesubjects with the weight and seriousness they deserve? Or are they justthrowing things in for shock value. It's all variable on how the author handlesthe issue. I can't really say if there's anything I would never write about. IfI did, chances are I'd get a story idea about it! 7.    Are there any types of characters (shifters, cowboys, construction workers, aliens, etc.) that you haven't written yet but       are just screaming foryou to get to their story?I have some samurai who havebeen very patiently waiting for my attention for a very, very long time. I'vewanted to write a historical gay romance with them ever since finishingConquest. My rock stars and vampires having been taking all my attention, butmy samurai continue to wait, knowing their time is coming. Hopefully 2012 willsee me being able to work with them.8.    What's next on your plate? What are you working on? Right now, I'm wrapping up thethird book in my Instincts series and I'm polishing another musician themednovel that will be loosely tied to the Conquest series. Those two are my mainfocuses for the first quarter of 2012. After that, I'm going to try to work onthe story for another character from the Conquest series, Brad Delfini.   9.    What's your favorite part of Christmas?I love doing holidaythings with my little guy. He's three years-old this year, so the season isstill full of magic for him. We've been reading Christmas books, watching allthe classic Christmas shows together, decorating, shopping, doing localactivities, and we'll be going to see Santa soon. I just love sharing this timeof year with him. 10.  Finally – a few quickchoices:a.    Coffee or tea – coffee, but only café mocha.b.    Dog or cat – Both!c.    Beach or mountains – Mountains.d.    Pecs or abs – Abs.e.    Smile or eyes – Eyes.f.     Cowboys or rockstars – Rock stars!g.    Who would win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? And why.Vampires! Um, but I have noidea why. Probably just because I've written vampires, but not werewolves, andmy vamps are pretty tough, so when I think vampires, I think of my guys and Ican't see them losing a fight. Guess I need to write some werewolves to reallymake an informed decision!
S.J. has graciouslyoffered up an IOU copy of her holiday story, Beautiful Harmony, to one lucky commenter on my blog. PLEASEREMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.
CONTEST WILL BE OPEN UNTILWEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21.
If you don't win, you can pick it up December 25 at MLR Press Beautiful Harmony and be sure to check out S.J.'s other books on her website S.J. Frost
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Published on December 19, 2011 06:37

December 18, 2011

Author Christopher Koehler interview and give-away



Pleasewelcome the witty Christopher Koehler to my blog today. Christopher is an avidrower, a stressed-out parent (aren't we all??) and the author of 3 m/m romancebooks. His latest book, a holiday story called The Advent Calendar, came out a couple weeks ago at MLR Press.
WelcomeChristopher! I'm very happy to have you here. Are you ready for your grilling? J
Bringit!
J

1.    How did you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always wantto be a writer?
I'll start with the second half of the question. Yes,for all intents and purposes I always wanted to be a writer. My parents tell meI filled notebooks with looping spiral, which is what cursive looks like topreliterate children. I actually started reading relatively late, at age 7. NowI'd be in special ed, but I attended an "alternative" private school that letme go at my own pace, and within a month I went from Dr. Seuss books to readingnovels like Watership Down.I found m/m romance quite by accident. I can't evenremember what I'd been looking at on Amazon to bring up such an ad, but it wasfor two of JL Langley's books, WithoutReservations and The Tin Star. Iloved having romantic stories told about my people, as it were (yes, I'm aranching werewolf, I admit it). They were like crack, and thank goodness fore-books, because they're cheaper. All it took was reading a few abysmal storiesfor me to say, "Is that all the higher the bar is? I can do that." And I did.2.    What were your early influences either in this genre or any other? In fantasy/sci-fi, my influences were Katherine Kurtzand David Eddings. In fact, Eddings is probably why my dialogue tends to snapand crackle. In m/m romance, I'd say ZA Maxfield's entire oeuvre, as well as afew treasured books by other authors, like Urban and Roux's Caught Running and Isabelle Rowan's A Note In The Margins. When I wasstarting out, I actually analyzed what it was about Crossing Borders and CaughtRunning that made them work as stories, and set out to include those kindof structural elements in Rocking the Boat.   3.    What is the hardest part about writing for you? The benefits?Hmmm, the hardest part of writing. I'm notactually sure how to answer that. I work hard at writing, but I'm not sure anyof it qualifies as "hard" per se. Since writing is what I'm supposed to bedoing with my life, it's as natural for me as breathing. That's the benefit—thebone-deep knowledge that this is how I'm meant to spend my life.4.    Tell us a little about your Christmas story. Did you somethingspecific inspire you to write it?Kris Jacen posed a challenge this summer on ZAMaxfield's Cybercafe about making mud sexy. For some reason I flashedimmediately to the tree farm at Apple Hill in the Sierra Nevadas my family'sbeen going to since I was two and how muddy it is. The debate about havingchildren was also drawn from my life.5.    Do you have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing acertain way, cup of coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc) Music always helps. Certain novels have "soundtracks"in that I listened to a particular album or albums a lot while writing them. First Impressions, which is even now inthe hands of beta readers, was written while listening to "The Cellblock Tango"from Chicago on a loop, as well asFlorence+The Machine's "Ceremonials" and "The Family Jewels" by Marina and theDiamonds. Tipping the Balance waswritten to "Projekt Presents: A Dark Cabaret" and various songs by the DresdenDolls. My choice of music probably tells you something about my psyche, too.;-)6.    Do you have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don't liketo read and can't see yourself ever writing?I don't see myself writing much in the way ofparanormal or horror, since I don't like to read them. I don't see myselfwriting m/f, either. Women are even more of a mystery to me than they are tostraight men. ;-)    7.       Do you find you put a lot of yourself into your characters or isfiction just fiction?While my stories are just fiction, I'd say that all ofmy characters—certainly all of my main characters—have some shard of my personalityat the root of theirs. I'm extremely aware of my internal emotional states, soit's fairly easy for me to answer the question, "How I would feel if…" and thengive that to my characters. But people shouldn't read too much, as it were,into my stories. They're only fiction.   
8.       What's next on your plate? What are you working on? I'm taking a short breather from m/m romance. I'vewritten three novels and a short in 18 months and I feel stale. So while Iresearch firefighting to tell Owen's story in the CalPac world, I'm working ona steampunk fantasy I've been picking at for years. It's set in an Edwardianworld and deals with the clash of a technoculture with ancient barbarism. Oddlyenough, it's the closest thing I've written to my dissertation since I graduated.9.    What's your favorite part of Christmas?It honestly used to be getting the Christmastree up in the hills. But last year I finally had to face the fact that I'msufficiently allergic that I can't have live trees in the house anymore.Frankly, I don't enjoy the holidays like I used to. They're just work.10.  Finally – a few quickchoices:a.    Coffee or tea - Tea—white, green, or black in that order.b.    Dog or cat - Cat.c.    Beach or mountains - Beach.d.    Pecs or abs - Pecs, especially hairy ones. I seem to have a thing for bearsgoing these days.e.    Smile or eyes - Smile.f.     Cowboys or rockstars - Neither.g.    Who would win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? And why.Preternaturals!Seriously, I don't like paranormal.
Christopher has generouslyoffered up a copy of his holiday story, TheAdvent Calendar or one of his backlisted titles, to one lucky commenter onmy blog. PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOURCOMMENT.
CONTEST CLOSES ON DECEMBER 20.
If you don't win, you can pick up, The Advent Calendar, at MLR Press MLR Press and be sure to check out Christopher's other books on his website Christopher Koehler
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Published on December 18, 2011 05:00

December 17, 2011

Author Missy Welsh interview and give-away


My guest today is the bubbly Missy Welshwho in real life is just that… bubbly. We met at Gay Rom Lit and I wasenthralled with her wit and sarcasm and all-around adorableness. Missy has anew holiday release, Every Time a Bell Rings, from MLR Press coming out onDecember 23.
Welcome, Missy. I've missed your smileand our lunchesHi, K-lee!:) I've missed you too! I'm actually finished with the Christmas shopping andwent to wrap today only to discover that I have absolutely no Christmaswrapping paper! So now I have to shop for that.
1.     Howdid you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer? I've been writing short stories since I was akid--still have my first from when I was 12--but I don't think I ever reallythought "yep, I'm going to be a writer when I grow up." I wrote for friends inhigh school, like putting them in their very own romances, and I wrote for me.I got into M/M shortly after buying myself a Kindle in2009 (happy birthday to me!) and my recommendations in there included "Heaven"by Jet Mykles. Gay men in a romance wasn't so new to me, but erotic romance?Like with details? I was too curious to resist!
2.     Whatwere your early influences either in this genre or any other?
My very first exposure to gay characters in a romanticsetting was thanks to Suzanne Brockmann and her FBI Agent Jules Cassidy. I'dbeen in love with her heroes for a good long while by then, discussing thebooks with my mom and sister like our own little book club. When Jules finallygot his Robin as a subplot in one book, I was completely hooked. When they gottheir own book as leads, I was over the moon and just had to see if I couldwrite a gay romance too. Nearly a year later, I finished it!
3.     Whatis the hardest part about writing for you?
Staying on task. Write THIS book by the deadline,Missy, not five othersand don't you dare go do any more "research"! I wander abit sometimes.It's even harder to concentrate when looking for a job anddealing with the depression and worry from being jobless. When I can manage thewhole butt-in-chair thing and ignore the shiny-shiny internet (and all that "research"!) I can get right into that world and make significant progress.It's just not necessarily a daily occurrence.
4.     Doesany one of your books hold a special place in your heart more so than theothers?
Oh my first book will always be my baby! "My Summer ofWes" and Malcolm Small are very dear to me for a lot of reasons, like how alikeme and Mal are and the fact that's the first story I've ever had published.That book will forever make me cheer, "I'm somebody!" LOL!
5.     Tellus a little about your new release, Every Time a Bell Rings.  Is there some specific inspiration behind it?Will it be a stand-alone or do you have future plans for the characters?
Brian Bailey is my MC in "Every Time a Bell Rings" andmy goal with him was to force him into a potentially very dark place and thenbring him out of it. He's lost his mother to cancer and was her caretakerthrough it all, he's lost the majority of his friends because that just seemsto happen when others can't handle your problems, and now he's lost his homeand nearly all his possessions days before Christmas. Some people might headfor the nearest bridge; Brian rebuilds even though it's painful and he doesn'treally know what he's doing.
But I'm completely unable to write something thatdoesn't have a little bit of comedy in it, so have a tissue handy while beingprepared to giggle a couple times. At least I hope I'm not the only one whothinks it's funny!
I don't have plans, per se, but I'd happily return tovisit Brian and Trent while giving Brian's best friend, Mike, his HEA.
6.     Doyou have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cupof coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)
There's a window in the little room I write in that Ihave to shutter so I don't daydream while staring out it. I write either insilence or with classical music playing really quietly--if I'm downstairs, Ilisten to the fish tank bubble--because I'll sing along and forget what I'mdoing. I'm also easily influenced by songs, so I end up getting an idea forsomething else instead of working on the project in front of me!I am utterly unable to write in public places likecoffee shops because I'm too easily distracted, though I can review or editthere. I have been known to completely ignore phone calls and write for 4-6hours without a break or realizing I've done that until I have to pee. :)
7.     Doyou have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don't like to read andcan't see yourself ever writing?
You know, I thought I did, but I've discovered I kindof don't. I couldn't stand stories with cheating in them --> I have anoutline for a couple coming back together after one cheats. I guess I'm willingto explore just about anything nowadays, even if I hate it at first glance.
8.     Asa new writer, how did you enjoy GRL? Are you planning on going again?
I loved GRL! Even broke and unemployed, I got my buttto New Orleans because I just had to meet friends I'd made online, readers whowanted to actually meet ME (seriously?!), and get my fangirl on for some of myfavorite authors--thankfully I was alone when I met a certain author and my IQwent down into negative numbers while I babbled all over her *ahem. And itwasn't a goal, but from a business standpoint, I actually made some greatcontacts. I just went for friendship and to talk books with people who wouldn'tbat an eyelash about the gay part of it all--something I don't get elsewhere.
And oh hells yeah I'll be in Albuquerque! (I can evenspell it now!)
9.     Whatcan we expect next from you? Are you already working on something else?
Right now the project I'm trying to keep my tush in aseat to complete is a story about a gay college student who's locked himself inthe closet because he's an athlete on scholarships but also because hecross-dresses too. He breaks my heart and I just have to give him his HEA orit'll kill me…or my editor will kill me because she wants it too!And though I've said it for a year now and people areprobably going to roll their eyes and think "yeah right, chick!" I am actuallyworking on the sequel to "My Summer of Wes." Sweatagod.
10.  Finally– a few quick choices:a.    Coffee or tea — Coffee!b.    Dog or cat — Catc.    Beach or mountains — Mountainsd.    Pecs or abs — Pecse.    Smile or eyes — Smile :)f.     Cowboys or rockstars — Cowboys!g.    Who would win in a fight – vampires orwerewolves? And why. — TeamJacob! Um, yeah. So that would be werewolves and because I like furry betterthan sparkly. *woof pant-pant
Missy has graciously offered up an ebook copy of EveryTime a Bell Rings (an IOU for release day actually) to one lucky commenter.PLEASE REMEMBER TO LEAVE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.
CONTEST WILL BEOPEN UNTIL TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20
If you don't win you can pick up Every Time a Bell Rings at MLR onDecember 23  Every Time a Bell Rings
Also, take a minute to check out Missy's other fabulousbooks on her websiteMissy Welsh
Thanks, K-lee! This was fun! :)
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Published on December 17, 2011 05:00

December 16, 2011

Author J.P. Bowie interview and 4 give-aways


My guest today became my self-appointedmentor at Gay Rom Lit. I snagged him on the boat cruise and made him talk to mefor over an hour. J  J.P. Bowie is as wonderful in person as hischaracters are in his books. He has two new releases at the moment, ChristmasWishes that came out November 30, and He Ain't Heavy that came out shortlyafter – both from MLR Press.
Welcome, JP. I promise not to fangirlover you like I did at Gay Rom Lit but I am still waiting for that WarriorPrince t-shirt you promised me. (I made that up but we'll see if he takes thebait – gosh I love that book) J.P. also wanted me to include his pic – so hereit is. -->
1.     Howdid you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer?
I wrote my first 'novel' at age 14 - it was adirect pinch from Edgar Rice Burroughs - except with men who loved men - so itwas always there I guess. Later I tried my hand at some mystery a la AgathaChristie, again with gay characters. None of these I ever sent to a publisher,just as well really - they'd have been scandalized no doubt. My first publishedwork was A Portrait of Phillip - not really m/m, more gay fiction with romance- the rewrite recently released by MLR Press is much more in the m/m genre, asare all my more recent novels.
2.     Whatwere your early influences either in this genre or any other?

Armistead Maupin who wrote Tales of the City - notreally an m/m writer but one who knows how to weave interesting stories withflesh and blood characters was a big influence on me. I hope I've been imbuedwith some of those same traits as a result. Characterization is hugelyimportant in any story, and I think, especially in m/m romance. I don't want mystories to be one sexcapade after another. That can get boring, after a while.The plot and the characters have to be interesting in any story I write - orread - or my mind strays to what I have to make my partner Phil for dinner!


3.     Whatis the hardest part about writing for you?
I have a tendency to write myself into a corner,then have to find a way out of the pickle I've created for myself. Sometimes itworks, other times it's the delete button being struck quite forcibly and a lotof curse words emanating from the den. I envy the writers who know exactlywhere the story is going from page one - not me - flying by the seat of mypants is more my style - did I just hear muttering of "You're telling me!"?  4.     Doesany one of your books hold a special place in your heart more so than the others?
My first book - A Portrait of Phillip - becausealthough far from perfect, it made me realize I could actually do this!
5.     Tellus a little about your Christmas story and your new release. Are either part ofa series or are they stand-alones?
ChristmasWishes is set in England in 1922 and tells of two Oxford professors in lovehaving to deal with spending their first Christmas together - apart - if youcatch my drift. Both have family commitments, but somehow Fate intervenes, asit so often will, to remedy the situation. 


HeAin't Heavy couldn't be more different, although again it's about love andthe twists of Fate. Two brothers, best friends and business partners find thatsecrets their parents had been keeping from them all their lives come to lightin a brutal fashion. Murder exposes a brother they never knew existed, a manwithout a conscience who is out to destroy them, but not before he reveals tothem something that will not only change their lives forever, but also makethem come to terms with the feelings for one another they have suppressed foryears.




6.     Doyou have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cupof coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)
Not really, but I do like peace and quiet. Somelight classical music or instrumental jazz is okay - no lyrics because I startlistening to the words.  7.     Doyou have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don't like to read andcan't see yourself ever writing?
BDSM is something I couldn't write about - I haveno objection to it other than it's not for me personally, and one or two of theBDSM books I've read have made me  giggle- not very manly I know, but there it is.
8.     Iheard a rumor that some readers were sure you were a woman because of yourwriting style. What exactly did they say your style was and do you think itmatters if the writer of a m/m romance if male or female?
One reviewer referred to me as Ms. Bowie. It was agood review so I thanked her and pointed out the JP stood for James Peter. Myfriend Carol Lynne before we became better acquainted thought I was femalebecause my writing was 'so romantic'. Well, I am a romantic, can't help it, sorry. It's all about love, afterall. No, it doesn't matter if the writer is male or female as long as the storyis good and the lovin' is hot!
9.     What'snext on your plate? What are you working on?
I've just submitted Book 7 of My Vampire and I forapproval and I've started a new Nick Fallon Investigation - no title yet - oh,and MLR is assessing A Self Portrait, a rewrite of the 4th in thePortrait series.
1.     Finally– a few quick choices:

a.     Coffeeor tea…………….bothb.     Dogor cat…………………again, bothc.      Beachor mountains…..beachd.    Pecs or abs…………….both!!e.     Smileor eyes……….smiling eyesf.      Cowboysor rockstars…..no contest - cowboys!g.     Whowould win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? And why…Vampires -their bite would seduce the werewolf and he'd be putty in the vampire's hands -just made that up by the way, but hey, I might use it next time!
J.P. has generously offered 4separate prizes to commenters. One copy each of Christmas Wishes, He Ain't Heavy, plus 2 of his backlist titles, A Special Christmas and A PresentChristmas. Random.org will be busy drawing 4 numbers this time – prizes awardedin the order listed (or something like that :P). 


PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVEYOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.
CONTEST WILL BE OPEN UNTIL MONDAY, DECEMBER 19.
Be sure to check out J.P.'s website for information on howto buy all his fabulous books, J.P. Bowie

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Published on December 16, 2011 05:00

December 15, 2011

Author Kaje Harper interview and give-away


I'mhappy to welcome Kaje Harper to my blog today. She's a relative newcomer to them/m genre but has already made quite a name for herself with some fantasticreads. Kaje has a holiday story, Wherethe Heart Is, coming out from MLR Press on December 30.
Welcome,Kaje! Thank you for coming by. I hope you find my questions stimulating.  J


1.    How did you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always wantto be a writer?   I've been writing since I learned how toput letters together, and I filled binders with stories as a teen.  But life got busy, and I never intended topublish anyway, so I moved to just writing stuff in my head.  I always had an ongoing story inprogress.  It was simply a pleasure and away of getting through slow moments, not a career. Then in about 2006 myhusband gave me a computer and the kids were older and I began putting thewords down on paper, or rather in pixels. By the time I had seven novels on my hard drive, my husband suggested Ishould see if I could publish one.  Ithink he figured if I was going to be obsessed with my keyboard, I should atleast try to get paid for it. I sent a story to MLR Press, because theypromised a critique of every submission. And instead I got an acceptance letter. One of the high points of the last decade for me.  That was Life Lessons.  As for the M/M part, I wrote Starksy andHutch slash fic in high school, back before I knew there was such a thinganywhere outside of my own binders (with fade-to-black sex scenes, of course,because back then I had no clue and there was no Internet in those days to doresearch – am I dating myself?)  So M/Mromance has always been part of what I wrote. 2.    Did you have any earlyinfluences either in this genre or any other?I didn't read very much M/M romance untilafter I was already writing it.  I didread some classics, Mary Renault's The Persian Boy and Patricia NellWarren's The Front Runner made an impression, as did Mercedes Lackey'sValdemar books.  But I read everythingelse too, including a lot of straight romance, mystery and fantasy. So manyfavorite authors.  The one I wanted to belike the most was Lois McMaster Bujold. I love her work; her style and her characters are really wonderful.

3.      What is the hardest partabout writing for you? The benefits?   The hardest part technically isediting.  I write in one fell swoop,beginning to end.  I then have a hardtime looking at the thing again, let alone working on it.  I have a love-hate relationship with my work,especially right after I finish something. It's good that the turnaround time with an editor usually gives me a fewweeks to gain a little perspective and look at the story fresh.  The benefits of writing, however, arelegion.  It's a joy and a therapy towrite.  When life hands me lemons, I canwrite about two guys falling in happy-ever-after love over a pitcher oflemonade.  The stories show up in my headanyway.  Getting them written down is asatisfaction.  When someone says that mywork touched them in some way, that is a creative contribution I have made thatcan never be lost.  And when I can't makethe real world bend for the loved ones in my life, I can help my characters toclimb out of any kind of hell and find a happy ending.  So therapeutic, that.4.     Tell us a little aboutyour holiday story, Where the Heart IsIt's a relatively simple andsweet story about figuring out what matters in life.  This is the blurb:  Dr. Trevor Carson had a good life as a cityveterinarian, until his father died. Taking over his dad's remote countrypractice was supposed to be temporary, but Trevor found himself loving theplace. If only it didn't mean separation from his partner, Michael. A Christmasvisit from Michael gives each of them a chance to decide if home is a place ora person.5.    Do you have any writing quirks? (ie computer has to be facing acertain way, cup of coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)  I can write anywhere, in termsof getting the story done, because it happens in my head.  My biggest problem is that it happens a lotwhile I'm driving, which occasionally has me distracted or pulling over to graba pencil and jot down a particularly apt phrase before I forget it.  Putting it into the computer is just the mechanics.  No quirks there.  I do often have my little dog in my lap as Itype.  He's sweet but has a tendency tolean his chin on my arm, which does slow my typing speed down.6.    Do you have any writingor reading squicks? Things you don't like to read and can't see yourself everwriting?   Not big ones.  I don't usually go for BDSM with real hurtinvolved, although The Violet and The Tom is a favorite and that storydoes lay some significant pain on the MC. I don't think I could write that scene though.  And I don't read and wouldn't write m/f/m wherethe two guys only pay attention to the woman in the bed and not eachother.  Too much of a waste.  Beyond that, I'm pretty open.  A good writer can make me believe in almostanything as a workable story.  And whoknows what plot bunnies may appear out of my subconscious next and demand to bewritten.
7.     Sometimes I find writingcuts into all the reading I want to do. Do you read a lot or just don't havethe time? Any faves you wanna share with us? It does cut into reading, but for me it is a verysimilar pleasure (at least the first draft when I don't know what's going tohappen yet.)  But I still read aton.  Favorites recently included CaroleCummings' Dream, Amy Lane's The Locker Room,  Josh Lanyon's Come Unto These Yellow Sands,Jordan Castillo Price's Hemovore,  Harper Fox's Driftwood.  And many more.8.     What's next on yourplate? What are you working on?  I have the Christmas short from MLRcoming out on the 30th.  I'vealso just done the proofs for The Rebuilding Year, a stand-alone novelcoming from Samhain in March.  The secondHidden Wolves book has been accepted and is in first edits.  And as soon as I have a moment to breathe,I'll do a last edit on the draft of Life Lessons 3 and submit it to myeditor.  Oh, and I have a YA short story Interventioncoming out in January, under the pen name Kira Harp, as part ofFeatherweight Press's Helping Hands charity line of stories.9.     What's yourfavorite part of Christmas  Christmas Eve, putting up the tree and baking cookies with mykids.  I love the family time, Christmascarols on the stereo with everyone in the mood, and that last echo ofanticipation in the air.10. Finally – a few quick choices:a.    Coffee or tea – tea, often , in large quantities.b.    Dog or cat – ouch, must I choose?  Dog, because my husband is allergic to catsso I can't have one at the moment.  Mylittle white mutt is my avatar.c.    Beach or mountains – mountains (I sunburn)d.    Pecs or abs – abse.    Smile or eyes – eyesf.     Cowboys or rockstars – cowboys (hot men in bluejeans – oh, yes.)g.     Who would win in a fight– vampires or werewolves? And why.  Um,that depends on the pantheon, and I read a lot of them.  If you take my own werewolves from UnacceptableRisk and the vampires from Ghosts and Flames then it wouldunfortunately be the vampires.  I madethe vamps very hard to kill, and my wolves are not very supernatural instrength and abilities, so one-on-one the vamp would win.  However wolves always have the Pack at theirbacks, so if there was enough time to gather, then a pack of wolves could pulldown a vampire. Kaje has generouslyoffered up a copy of one of the books on her backlist to one lucky commenter onmy blog.  BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR NAMEAND EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT.
CONTEST WILL BE OPEN UNTILSUNDAY, DECEMBER 18.
If you don't win, you can go to Kaje's website for information onall her books,Kaje Harper, and be sure to mark December 30 on your calendar for her holiday story,Where the Heart Is, at MLR Press. 
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Published on December 15, 2011 05:00

December 14, 2011

Author Z.A. Maxfield interview and give-away

I'm excited to have the sweetheart of them/m romance genre with me today. Z.A. Maxfield has to be one of the mostbeloved of the m/m authors and having had the pleasure of meeting her and evenhaving lunch with her at Gay Rom Lit, I can tell you that she deserves to becalled those things and more.  She has aholiday story out at MLR Press right now called A Picture Perfect Holiday.



Welcome! I'm so excited to have you here,ZAM. Oh, can I call you ZAM?


1.     Howdid you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer?I did alwayswant to be a writer, I used to stay up late at night scribbling furiously inlonghand (I still love an ultra sharp no. 2 pencil with a pristine eraser likenothing else) until my mother made me turn out the lights.
2.     Didyou have any early influences either in this genre or any other?
I think myfirst love was romance, and my favorite author in romance is Laura Kinsale. Shewas so crazy good. I just love her work. I still reread them and believe shewas simply the best, ever. Unbelievably intricate plots, heroes to die for,prose that sings. Crazy good.
3.     Whatis the hardest part about writing for you?
For me, writingis a series of different jobs. It's not just writing, butwriting consistently, editing, rewriting, submitting, the publisher/editorialprocess, promotion, and accepting other people's opinions about the work. Thehardest part is promotion, by far. 
4.     Doesany one of your books hold a special place in your heart?
Crossing Borderswas my first, and it was such a flight of fancy.  I never imagined that I'd get it published,much less put into print or that anyone would buy it. That it's been embracedthe way it has was unbelievable to me.
5.    Tell us a little about your Christmas story.Is it a new story or related to one of your other books?
I have aChristmas story with MLR called A PicturePerfect Holiday, and the characters aren't from any of my other novels. Iwas determined to create a story that warms you like a cup of hot cocoa on acold winter day. I also have a Hanukkah related story coming out from Loose Idon December 20th, and that one is a novella length historical, set in 1955,which is a little darker and more bittersweet in nature. That one is called Secret Light.
6.     Doyou have a writing quirk? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cup ofcoffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)
If I had aquirk right now it would be writing on my laptop in bed (because it's been coolhere.) That has to end soon, though, because it's so lazy, I can't even standmyself. I don't like to have music playing, although I often listen to music toset a mood. Once I start writing though, I like quiet, otherwise I write to themusic, and not the story, if that makes sense.
7.     Doyou have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don't like to read andcan't see yourself ever writing? 
I have to laughabout this. I'm squicked by twincest. (That's because I'm the mother of twinboys.) I have friends who find it really sexy. I just can't do it. I'd neversleep again. *shudders*
8.     There'sbeen a lot of talk about the genre just rehashing old themes and nothing newbeing brought into it by new authors, what are your thoughts on that? 
I think there'snothing new. What each author brings to the party is his or her experience,voice, mindset, originality, and creativity. Ultimately, it's up to readers todecide what they want to read, and many, many readers find comfort in themesthat are familiar. For example, I can't pass up a cozy mystery. Just how manyeccentric British nationals can you bring in to solve the poisoning crime in adifferent way? I don't know. I just know I haven't reached my limit yet.
9.     What'snext on your plate? What are you working on?
I have threebig projects in the works, a romantic comedy, a darker romantic suspense story,and a super seekrit project with Heidi Cullinan. I have a couple more in theworks I'm not talking about yet, in case I jinx them. Stay Tuned!

10. Finally –a few quick choices:a.     Coffeeor tea Coffeeb.     Dogor cat Dogc.      Beachor mountains Beachd.     Pecsor abs Abse.     Smileor eyes Smilesf.      Cowboysor rockstars Rockstarsg.     Whowould win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? And why. Vampires would win a fight because their very nature is in oppositionto creation and it makes them tough, sneaky motherfuckers.
ZAM has graciously offered up a copy of her holiday story, A Picture Perfect Holiday, to one luckycommenter on my blog, OR, you may choose any of her holiday titles or anythingfrom her backlist.  BE SURE TO INCLUDEYOU NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT. J

CONTEST CLOSES AND WINNER WILL BE DRAWN ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17.
If you don't win and haven't already done so, you can pickit up at MLR Press A Picture Perfect Holiday
Be sure to check out Z.A. Maxfield's website for informationon how to buy her other fabulous books, too. (if you haven't read DrawnTogether yet – DO!) Z.A. Maxfield

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Published on December 14, 2011 05:00

December 13, 2011

Author Megan Derr interview and give-away


Myguest today is Megan Derr, fabulous author of m/m romance books, co-owner ofLess Than Three Press LLC and winner of the most awesome Twitter-er award (notreally but she is awesome). Megan has a holiday story coming out on December 21called The Christmas Package.
Welcome!It's so awesome that you're here Megan. Are you ready?
Ready Set Go! It's awesome to be here :D Thank you for having me^__^
I'm going to start the interview by sneaking in my congratulations to Megan for winning "Best Gay Paranormal/Horror" for her book Midnight! Congrats and way to go! (now to the questions)
1.     Howdid you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer?
I always loved reading, but writingwas something I put on a pedestal forever. It wasn't until college, when afriend dragged me to a writing class and I started hesitantly poking at fanfic,that I realized I could write—and really really wanted to be a writer :3 

2.     Didyou have any early influences either in this genre or any other?
Weirdly, Stephen King is one of mygreatest influences. Growing up, I read romance, fantasy, and Stephen King (butpretty much no other horror). My mom would read some of his stories to us atnight, so he's stuck with me in ways that other authors haven't.
3.     Whatis the hardest part about writing for you?
Description. I hate long, involveddescriptions of things, so I have a bad habit of going to the other extreme andmaking mine too short. Length, in general, is difficult for me. I'm a veryminimalist writer, I always boggle when I write something extremely long and ittakes me forever (and I still say that in the hands of someone else, the storywould be twice as long).
4.     Doesany one of your books hold a special place in your heart?
Prisoner will always be my baby.That was the first story where I set out witha very specific goal in mind and,at least in my opinion, completely nailed it. I love Kria and its inhabitantsand will never tire of playing there. I love Dieter and Beraht and they'llalways be my number one :D
5.     Tellus a little about your Christmas story. Is it a new story or related to one of your other books?
TheChristmas Package is a sequel to a shortstory I wrote for the M/M Romance Group on GoodReads called Delivery with a Smile. The premise for thatfirst story was a fun one, about an innocuous delivery man who stumbles into anawkward situation with a hitman :3  The Christmas Package takes placeseveral months after Delivery with aSmile, and shows the characters still stumbling along in their oddrelationship.
6.     Doyou have a writing quirk? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cup ofcoffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)
Honestly the only thing I need isrelative silence. I can't write when the TV is on or I can hear otherconversations. Music is sometimes okay. Location or what I'm writing with(computer, notebook, ipad), etc, doesn't matter, but I do need quiet.
7.     Doyou have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don't like to read andcan't see yourself ever writing?
I'll try most anything once, thoughI don't know that I would do slavery or noncon well since they're not somethingI generally like reading, and I think BDSM and such is way out of my league.  But I also like challenges, so I hate to sayNEVER to something.
8.     Youand your sister started Less Than Three Press, how did that decision come aboutand how are you enjoying it?
Samantha came up with the idea. Iwas in the midst of self-publishing and thinking of trying to submit stories topublishers when she called me and said 'let's do this' and I said 'you'recrazy, but okay.'  We wanted to publishbooks that we liked, and our own way, so that is what we've set out to do.Lucky for the two of us, Sasha joined us and together the three of us havemanaged very well indeed :D It's a lot of fun, even if it's crazy busy.  I never thought I would be a publisher, but Iwould be completely crushed if I ever stopped now.
9.     What'snext on your plate? What are you working on?
My major goals are The Lost Gods, a five books series, andSword of the King, which is set in the same verse as Dance with the Devil. I'm also working on a handful of shortstories for various and sundry things and have been informed that a story aboutGladiators is officially on my to-do list. (K-lee's note –Hahahahahaha!) :3
10. Finally –a few quick choices:a.    Coffee or tea  - Coffee!b.    Dog or cat - Cat! Weown six now :3c.     Beach or mountains - Beachd.    Pecs or abs - Pecse.    Smile or eyes - Smilef.     Cowboys or rockstars  -Can I have one ofeach?g.    Who would win in a fight – vampires orwerewolves? And why.Vampires.Anything that actually managed to survive death and come back stronger, withspecial powers, and a taste for blood is nothing to fuck with, even if you're afurry badass :3
Thankyou, Megan. You rock, sista.  J
You're a rockstar :D

Megan has generously offered up an IOU copyof her holiday story, the ChristmasPackage, to one lucky commenter on my blog. REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR NAMEAND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.
Ifyou don't win, you can pick it up On December 21 at Less Than 3 Press
Besure to check out Megan's website for information on how to buy her otherfabulous books at Megan Derr.




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Published on December 13, 2011 00:40