Andrew Q. Gordon's Blog, page 60
September 11, 2013
Author Interview & GIVEAWAY: Andrew Q. Gordon
Andrew Q. Gordon is not just an author I respect, but someone whom I consider as a very good friend. He is an amazing person who never hesitates to help out or guide someone when asked. A talented brain - that can come up with such innovative storylines that it would leave you amazed. He is the author of (Un)masked, The Last Grand Master and his newly released…
Last day to enter the giveaway. Comment by 8 pm EST tomorrow to be entered.
September 10, 2013
Wednesday Briefs: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 24
“She said that?” The leather chair creaked as Darryl leaned forward. “To you? I hope you set her straight – no pun intended.”
The silly ‘gay/straight’ humor that pervaded their house failed to make Dean smile.
“Not really.” Darryl looked ready to fight, so Dean took a deep breath and shook his head. “I…it took my legs out, you know? I mean, I didn’t know what to say.”
Even now, an hour after he’d dropped Hanna off at her dorm, he couldn’t find the right words.
“You should have told her this is the twenty-first century and bigots like her should join the Westboro Church or something.” Darryl stood up with a jerk. He turned toward the kitchen then spun around. “Didn’t you at least tell her your brother was gay?”
“I…no. I just said it didn’t matter. That Blake was a good player and a nice guy.”
Hearing the words outloud, Dean wanted to hide. It sounded to him like he’d been ashamed, so he knew how his friend would take it.
“That’s it?” Darryl’s eye went wider. “You didn’t…I don’t know…mention your brother plays on the same team and he’s gay too?”
“Honestly, at the moment, I had no idea what to say.”
“Fine, that was then. What about now?” With his eyebrow raised, Darryl looked like a disapproving teacher Dean had in high school.
“Well I figured…to be honest….”
“You keep saying, ‘to be honest,’ but you weren’t all that honest with Hanna.”
“Look–” Dean stood up to escape the accusing glare he knew he deserved. “–I…maybe I could have done it differently, but shouldn’t I use this as a chance to educate her? I mean, if she likes me, she’ll get to meet Jason and Peter – and Blake too – and see there isn’t anything different about them other than who they like.”
When Darryl’s lips tightened and twisted into an almost frown, Dean knew that wasn’t the right answer. “It doesn’t work that way, Dean. Are you sure you’re not thinking with the little head here? I mean how do you think Jase is going to feel knowing what your girl friend thinks about gays in the locker room?”
“This isn’t about Jason….”
“Bullshit!” The venom dripped from the word. “You’ve got some stones saying that. He’s always putting you first. How….”
“Stop!” Dean waved his hand toward Darryl. ” That’s not what I meant. You didn’t let me finish.”
Darryl’s eyes narrowed and he licked his lips. “Fine. Continue.”
The look on his friend’s face said, ‘this better be a damn good explanation.’ Exhaling, Dean collected his thoughts.
“What I mean is this isn’t about one person. If you just look at Hanna and stamp bigot on her forehead…”
“Or somewhere else you were looking.” Darryl whispered.
“…you never get the chance to educate her. I’m not saying I agree with her, but if I just walk away, she remains a homophobe. If I tried to convince her she’s wrong by showing her that it’s no big deal, then there’s one less bigot in the world.”
Darryl raised both eyebrows for an instant then started to nod. His face contorted a few times to show he at least considered Dean’s comment.
“That’s…sorry, Dean. I should have let you finish. Props to you for thinking with more than your dick, but it really doesn’t that way.”
He felt like a bit of a fraud because he hadn’t really thought about what he’d said until just now when he was forced to defend himself. But having put it out there, he liked what he’d said. “You don’t know that.”
“Remember that scrape Jase and I got into at the Mall when we were twelve?”
“How can I forget, you bring it up all the time.”
“Yeah, well it was a defining moment for me. It’s when I realized that other than your brother, my other ‘friends’ just tolerated the black kid, but weren’t really my friend.”
He’d heard his brother and Darryl have this discussion many times before. “C’mon, D, just because they ran away and didn’t stick around for the fight, doesn’t mean they didn’t like you cause you’re black.”
“You’re a lot like you’re brother.” Darryl snorted softly and smiled. “You think everyone sees the world like you both do. I’m not your black friend; I’m your friend. Just like Jason isn’t my gay best friend, he’s my best friend.”
“I’m not sure what this has to do with Hanna and me.”
“Jordan was on of my ‘friends’ that ran off when the fight started.”
“Yeah, he left and let you and Jason get beat up.”
“Right, except I don’t think he expect Jason to stick around.” Darryl shrugged. “The point is, after that day, I never trusted him, but your brother always defended him. Said the same thing you did about how Jordan abandoned us both and that meant he was afraid not a racist. But I knew better. Sure he said the right things and acted like he cared, but he never changed. It was all an act. He pretended to be someone else because he knew Jason wouldn’t be friends with him otherwise.”
Darryl didn’t need to recite what Jordan had done to Peter to make the point. “So you don’t think Hanna can change.”
“Honestly? No. Or at least, you can’t make her change.” Darryl shrugged again. “But I’m sure if you asked you’re brother he’d tell you to try.”
“You disagree?” It came out like a question, but Dean knew the answer.
“She might say what she thinks you want to hear, and act differently when you’re around, but she’ll still feel the same.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because that’s what Jordan did; pretended to my face and Jason’s but talked shit about me when he thought it wouldn’t get back to us.”
“She’s not him.” Dean wasn’t entirely sure why he was arguing.
Darryl shook his head. “No she’s not.”
Dean didn’t respond. Their talk hadn’t made things any clearer. He needed time to think so he stood up. “Thanks, D.”
Vaguely he heard Darryl answer, but he was too lost in his thoughts as he took the stairs to his room.
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September 5, 2013
Untimely End? Or Mission Accomplished?
I read today about Giovanni’s Room possibly closing. For those who have no idea what that is or why it’s significant, I’d say it’s a Philly thing, but that probably wouldn’t help all that much. Giovanni’s Room is the LGBT bookstore in Philadelphia that was one of the original gay owned/focused bookstores. Hell it’s even got it’s own historical marker set in front of the store. It started not long after the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and was/is a tremendous resource to the local gay community. In any case the owner, Ed Hermance, has decided to retire. He’s looking for a buyer – and if you read the article, you can see he’s not looking for a lot, if he can find someone who’ll keep the store running.
I remember a few years ago when Lambda Rising closed in D.C. feeling like it was the end of an age, but if Giovanni’s Room closes, it will hit that much closer to home. I didn’t move to Philadelphia (well the suburbs) until I was sixteen, so to say I grew up there isn’t quite accurate. But the ‘gay me’ grew up there. I was living there when I came out. I had many firsts in my ‘gay life’ happen there and I met my soon to be husband there.
I won’t exaggerate and say I used to make special trips into the city just to go Giovanni’s Room, but if I was down in the ‘Gayborhood’ I would almost always make a side trip just to see what was new. (Some of those side trips became adventures, when I couldn’t remember what block it was on and because there was no Siri to ask for direction, I had to walk around for ten minutes trying to find something familiar.)
Back in the early ’90s, it, and other bookstores like it, was a source of information on the community and culture. There weren’t many place you could find the gay newspaper, magazines, books, community information, etc, all in one place. Washington’s first gay pride event was sponsored by the Lambda Rising bookstore.
It, like the other LGBT bookstores that have since closed, was a place you could go and be yourself. Instead of looking over your shoulder worrying about who was watching, you could look to see if someone was watching. (Or you could do the checking out if you liked.)
Back when Lamdba Rising closed, there was a debate about the need for LGBT focused bookstores. In a 2009 Washington Post article, Deacon Maccubbin, founder and owner of Lambda Rising, said when he opened the store it filled an unmet need by carrying LGBT books and magazine the mainstream stores didn’t and to show that there was a market for gay themed literature and magazines. Part of his decision to close the store was that the need was being met in other ways, i.e. mainstream bookstores and online. He said his store had achieved his goal convincing mainstream retailers that there was a market for LGBT literature and writing. He used the term ‘Missions Accomplished’ and said it was time to move on to new things.
When I consider that Mike and sat down with an event planner at a local hotel today to arrange our wedding reception, I can see the progress he spoke about. I’m reminded of how far we’ve come when I drop off our daughter – who has two fathers – at daycare and I’m treated like every other parent. Recently someone commented that we – Mike, me, ‘lil q and our dog – are more of a traditional family that they were and they’re straight. When we get married, our families are flying in from all around the country to attend. They’re coming not because it’s a ‘gay wedding’ but because it’s our wedding and that is what families do – attend family member’s weddings. Can anyone deny how much progress has been made in the past twenty years?
And then I wonder if LGBT focused bookstores are serving the same purpose they did twenty, thirty, forty years ago. How many members of the LGBT community under twenty-five have ever been to Giovanni’s Room or the like? Or better yet, how many people in our community period have been there recently. How many people get any of their community information from such places let alone the lion’s share? Do LGBT readers look there first for their purchases or do they go to Amazon, B & N, iTunes, etc?
I do, however, think we are poorer for the fact these places are gone. Part of me will always feel the need still exists. That having a place like Lambda Rising or Giovanni’s Room will never be obsolete. Even if other places carry LGBT literature and magazines,, the environment will never be as comfortable as it was/is at Lambda Rising or Giovanni’s Room.
Mainstream places will never be community gathering points, will never be at the forefront of change, or as zealous a champion for our causes. They won’t be trailblazers and sponsor the first pride (or the next equivalent) event. They’ll always serve a broader swath of the population and won’t have the same focus as a local, community driven place. We’ll have to share it with everyone else.
And while the ultimate goal of acceptance is to be treated the same as everyone else, it still feels nice to have a little slice of something that is all our own. Maybe it’s because I ‘grew up’ when there was a need for such things that I feel the loss more keenly. Maybe it’s because I don’t think, ‘bigger is better.’ That just because Amazon has low prices, that it’s good for the community. [And I've nothing against Amazon, in fact quite opposite. Jeff Bezos gave millions of dollars of his own money to support gay marriage in Washington State.]
But in the end, these are businesses not non-profits. They can only survive if they make money. Independent sellers of all stripes are struggling, not just LGBT ones. Those of us who lament their passing must look in the mirror and ask, ‘Did I do enough to support them to keep them going?’ If most are like me, the answer will be no.
To answer my own questions, I don’t agree that it’s ‘Mission Accomplished.’ If Giovanni’s Room goes the way of the other independent LGBT bookstores that have closed, it will be an untimely end, because we who knew better, didn’t do enough to keep them going.
September 3, 2013
Wednesday Briefs: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 22
Dean paced the living room of the empty house. Having the place to himself seemed like such a great idea a few hours ago. He’d been about to leave to pick up Hanna for their date, when Jason sent him the text to say he and Peter decided to stay in Harrisburg. Dean had smiled and counted his good fortune. Now that he needed someone to talk to, he wished they’d come back instead.
Driving home, he’d decided to see what Darryl thought. Or at least he’d try to speak to his roommate. Despite their recent heart-to-heart, Dean still didn’t feel entirely comfortable asking Darryl for advice. He’d been ‘Little T’, or ‘Deano’ for too long to believe Darryl would truly see him as an equal.
Then again, Darryl had been really helpful when Dean got dressed. Not even a smirk crossed his lips when he vetoed Dean’s first choice of what to wear. Listening to his teammate had been a good thing as Hanna had complimented Dean on how he looked when he picked her up.
Darryl’s good advice continued through dinner. She seemed genuinely pleased that Dean chose the Italian restaurant and not the ‘pizza joint.’ If only the rest of the night had gone so well.
Having replayed the evening the entire ride home, he’d been eager to talk to Darryl the moment he walked into the house. Finding the place empty only fueled his anxiety. After his fourth time around the sofa, he smacked the cushion and flopped down.
Closing his eyes, Dean relived the moment it all went wrong. Why did Ethan and Blake have to be at the same restaurant? Dozens of places to eat in town and they ended up in the one Dean picked for a first date.
“No,” he said out loud. “It wasn’t their fault.”
“Wasn’t whose fault?” Darryl asked.
“Whoa!” Dean opened his eyes and jumped from his seat. “How….”
Darryl dropped his backpack on the chair nearest to him and stared at Dean. “What’s up with you? And why did you leave the front door open?”
“I did?” He’d been is such a rush to get inside that he must have forgotten to shut it.
“Yeah, you did.” Cocking his head to the side, Darryl looked confused. “You, the one who freaked out last week when someone forgot to lock the door before going to sleep, left the front door wide open and didn’t hear me come in. That isn’t like you. What’s going on?”
“I….” His carefully thought out speech slipped from his thoughts. “I’m….”
“And why are you home? It’s only 10:15.”
“I…um…well…I just am.” Now that he needed to explain, he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Darryl probably wouldn’t react well. No, make that Dean knew he wouldn’t react well at all.
Darryl squinted and then shook his head. He pointed to the couch and said. “No way. Sit.”
Still thinking about the end of the date, Dean almost didn’t hear Darryl’s command. He opened his mouth to protest, but Darryl pointed again.
“Don’t. Just sit down and let’s talk about what happened.”
Until he told someone what had happened, Dean knew he’d never get any sleep. Given that the only other option required he call Jason, Dean let out a sigh and sat down.
“So what happened?” Darryl checked the chair behind him before sitting. “Did she like the restaurant?
“Oh yeah. She said it was a bit nicer than she expected.”
“Did spill your dinner on her?”
“No.”
“So, what? Did you talk non-stop? Make her pay the bill? Tell her she’s got a triple D chest, but the IQ of wallpaper paste?”
“What?” Maybe he could wait after all.
Darryl spread his arms wide. “I’m graspin’ here, you won’t tell me what happened.”
“You won’t let me.”
“Fine.” Darryl folded his arms and sat back “You talk, I’ll listen.”
“Um…well…dinner went well, or at least I thought so. We’d just ordered dessert when Ethan comes over holding Blake’s hand.” Dean shook his hands in frustration. “What are the odds they’re at the same restaurant, at the same time, as us?”
“Given this isn’t that big of a town, the odds were pretty good you’d run into someone from the team.”
“Yeah, I guess.” He had taken Hanna to one of the more popular date restaurants in town. “Part of me is pissed at them, but I guess it’s better this way.”
“Wait, you’re saying they ruined your date? How?”
“No, I mean they did, but not them.”
“That makes no sense, Little T.” He rubbed his temples. “So they ruined your date, but it wasn’t them. Still make’s no sense. You’re gonna need to spell it out for me.”
“Okay, so the waiter took our order, and walked off. Hanna and I are talking and suddenly Ethan is there, smiling away. Blake looked a bit uncomfortable, but he still said hello.”
“So far, nothing to kill a date.”
“Actually, that’s all it took.” Dean shook his head and frowned.
“Saying hello killed your date?”
“Kinda. So I introduced them. Told her how I’d worked with Ethan the last two summers and that Blake played on our soccer team. She got real quiet and kept looking down. She barely said hello to them.
“I tried to talk to them, but they must have felt uncomfortable, so they left.”
“That was rude.”
“Yeah, kinda.” Dean took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “I watched them leave wondering if she was embarrassed to be seen with me, or if she knew either of them and they didn’t like each other, or something. When I turned back to her, Hanna was staring at me. So I asked her what’s was that all about?”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah, I was a kinda annoyed.”
Darryl nodded slowly. “And?”
“And she says she doesn’t understand how I can be okay with a gay teammate.”
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August 28, 2013
Guest Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Today’s guest author is Susan Mac Nicol. Susan is an equal opportunity romance writer. Her first books were MF Romance, but after writing a MM secondary character pairing, she decided to write a MM Romance – Stripped Bare. This was my first opportunity to get to know Susan and I think you’ll find – like I did – that she’s a talented and interesting woman. Below she talks about her new books, her old book, what prompted her to write MM fiction and a few other things. Read through to the end for an excerpt from Stripped Bare.
Guest Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Welcome, Susan. Let’s start by talking about your new release, Stripped Bare. Is this your first M/M story?Yes, this is my first, but definitely not my last. I took a look at my publishing schedule earlier today and needed a paper bag to breathe in to stop hyperventilating. It’s not, however, the first time I’ve written about M/M relationships in my books. My Starlight series has a gay couple as main secondary characters in all three books. I also wrote about a bisexual serial killer in an erotic crime romance. I got acquainted with the ins and outs of the gay man’s world by doing research for that book. As a result, I found it fascinated and it titillated me to where I wanted to write my own M/M book. The book trailer is below.
Tell us a bit more about the plot of Stripped Bare.
It’s the story of a man called Matthew Langer who’s been badly hurt by having someone he loved die in terrible circumstances, without being able to say goodbye. Matthew didn’t deal particularly well with his husband Sam’s death and as a result, he ended up losing more than just Sam. When there’s an incident involving a close family friend that means a trip to the hospital, he comes into contact with another man – Shane Templar – who is just so unlike anyone Matthew has met before. Shane wears his heart on his sleeve and he has a real yen for the brooding Matthew. But Shane also has his secrets, and a family history that causes him pain. But it’s when Shane comes to harm that Matthew finally realises he has to let the past go.
How much research did you have to do to write about Shane’s abilities?
Quite a bit, although it’s pretty much glossed over in the story. I didn’t want to get too technical for fear of being too detailed. Shane’s abilities were based on someone I chatted with in an online hacking forum I joined and on Twitter. He/she was very helpful in giving me some of the basics. They pointed me in the right direction, told me about ethical hacking and the certification for it, and allowed me to use a real life situation they’d encountered with a client of theirs having security issues with some software. All whilst remaining anonymous of course.
Sounds like these were useful friends – and people you’d not like to make your enemy.
Having now written both MM romance and MF romance which genre do you prefer if either? Is one harder for you to write than the other?
I am definitely gearing towards writing M/M fiction. I have found it more exciting, more in depth and more emotionally satisfyingthan writing M/F. But I loved writing my Starlight series and my novellas and that’s not to say I won’t write M/F again. Love is love no matter who it’s between so as long as the story provides for either one, I’d do both definitely,
Some say romance is romance and readers who read M/F would like M/M romance if they’d only read it. Have your readers been good about following you to the ‘world’ of M/M romance?
I have made a few converts I have to say, and when I have, these people tell me they really enjoyed the journey into reading M/M Romance and may well read more. I’m not so sure about the other way around though. My sales of previous M/F novels haven’t particularly spiked since Stripped Bare was released indicating that perhaps M/M readers prefer to stay in the known genre. But that’s just a personal opinion, no science behind it.
Tell us something interesting that is not in the blurb?
Hmm. Shane gets terribly excited when Matthew speaks German and this becomes somewhat of a sexual game between them. More for Matthew than Shane I have to say. Matthew can be a bit of a tease. *grins* Shane has also had a past relationship with a man called Timmy, whom he used to escort, and Timmy turns out to be a really good friend in the end in a life or death situation.
Have you ever based characters on anyone you know?
Yes indeed. In Cassandra by Starlight and Together in Starlight, the MC Cassie Wallace was based on – *clears throat* – me. Not my physical attributes as Cassie’s are far nicer, but certainly her outlook of life, her views, and her emotional state.
Then of course there’s the character of Bennett Saville in the same book. I started writing this book purely because I have a huge fan girl crush on a British actor called Benedict Cumberbatch and while I don’t ‘know’ him, I wanted one for myself. And the only way to get that was to create this character in a book I could have fun with. I was even on the radio station talking about this effort to recreate the Cumberbatch in the Starlight series.
What’s your favorite place to write?
I belong to an incredible writing group called the Talliston Writer’s Circle. It’s a house that’s being converted to a series of thirteen supernatural rooms and is run by a man who is both a druid and a shaman. His vision has created a place to write that is like something out of Alice in Wonderland, all mystery and quirks. I love writing in the study that is all decked out like a Sam Spade. If you want to see what this place looks like then follow the link. I’m really privileged to be a part of all this.
What’s your least favorite part of the writing process?
That would be the part where I get the edits back from my editor and look them over. While I know they are necessary and make my writing tighter and better, I still don’t like them. Not because I disagree either but because I think ‘Hell, why didn’t I see that? Why didn’t I think of that?” And then begins the onerous task of changing things and getting the story to be the best it can be. I have high expectations of myself and I think I should have done it right in the first place.
Since there is always another story to tell, what are you working on now?
I’m currently trying to finish my tenth full length novel, called ‘Worth Keeping’. It’s the story of a man called Nick Mathers who had a horrific childhood and is now a lighthouse keeper on the Norfolk coast. He finds a man washed ashore on the beach during a storm and when Owen Butler decides to push himself into Nick’s life, Nick finds him pretty hard to resist. I’ve also been asked to write a six book series for my publisher Boroughs, entitled ‘Men in London’ so work will start on that soon for publication mid 2014.
Six book series?? Should we order you an oxygen tank, just in case?
*Laughs* I think a strait jacket and another bottle of Kalmettes might be more in order. I hear strait jackets go cheap on Ebay.
What have you read lately that most people haven’t read but should?
I have to say I’m not one of those people who read true literary ‘stuff’ and can make sweeping and intelligent announcements about the true value of writing and how it contributes to society and the universe in general. I’m a pretty simple person really. So all I can tell you is that if you want a few really good reads, head over to my Facebook page on a Friday and a Monday when I do some ‘Reading Recommends’ and perhaps you’ll see something you like. Be warned though – it’s no Dostoyevsky or James Joyce….
Most people have heard of those, so recommending things off the beaten path is probably more useful to your readers, wouldn’t you say?
If you’re looking for something completely different, then I have to say I thoroughly enjoy Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘Sherlock’. I own the complete collection, and read it when I’m in the mood. I also read Edgar Allan Poe’s works and some wonderful novels by an English writer called Phil Rickman. Phil writes about a female diocese exorcist called Merrily Watkins and brings the Welsh landscape to life with his stories about murder, mayhem and spiritual happenings in obscure Welsh villages. I have such an eclectic reading taste that includes horror, psychological thrillers, contemporary and paranormal romance, but I’m not a fan of anything historical, nonfiction or chick lit for its own sake.
If you could meet any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
I’d have to say Edgar Allan Poe. I love his work, his poetry and I find his background and life story fascinating. His whole writing career, his untimely death, his dark and pretty twisted psyche in producing some of the stories he did – it would be an honour to learn more about him face to face.
As for someone who’s alive – well *whispers* -I have a bit of fan girl thing for a guy called Josh Lanyon, I’m sure everyone’s heard of him. Josh is my all time fave M/M author. I think he might think I’m stalking him (honestly Josh, I’m not.) I love his style, his humour and his characters. So one day I’d love to meet the guy and share some stories, and hope that some of that genius rubs off on me.
If genius is contagious, can you bring me with you, please?
We can get a whole bunch of us together and mosey on down to see him. I think he might have enough to go around.
What’s a fun – non-writing – day for you?
I belong to a wonderful institution called the Great Dunmow Supper Club. The club is a one of a kind ‘eaterie’ and is held at Talliston, the house. These are normally murder mystery dinners and lunches or full on sit down themed dinners. I get to meet some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met, across all spectrums of life and industry, eat good food and dine in an atmosphere that’s not of this world. That’s a lot of fun. Others would include a simple trip to a pub on the seaside, perhaps a walk along a pier or simply a day trip to another part of the country. I like forests and woodlands.
Besides reading and writing, what else do you enjoy?
As I’ve said before, I love going out to dinner and parties, socialising and seeing friends. I am a big movie buff and can watch one film then walk out straight into another one. I’m not a sporty person (no surprises there I’m sure) so the only thing I enjoy doing that’s sporty is swimming and given that I hate public pools with a passion, I don’t do this much. When I lived in South Africa we had our own huge swimming pool and that was heaven. But too much chlorine and warm water really doesn’t do it for me.
Last question is all yours – feel free to talk about anything you want your readers to know about you, your book, anything at all.
My first book was published in August last year and since then I haven’t stopped writing. It’s because I have such a passion for it, and love it so much. It’s made me friends I never thought I’d have, introduced to me to areas I’d never properly considered in my life before, such as LGBT issues, sexual abuse awareness, the BDSM scene, gay man sex, etc. My research has brought me into contact with interesting and varied topics. I’ve been on the radio, been interviewed by newspapers, been to various events to meet like minded people and actually met some amazing people who I now count as friends. It’s been one helluva roller coaster of a ride. It’s also made me rather anti anti-social as I spend more time in cyber space than with actual human beings. It’s made me obsessive and driven as I strive to meet both personal and publishing deadlines, and it’s made me selfish. I don’t make excuses for this behaviour, (I blame the ‘creative muse’) but I do know that’s it the only way I can get to where I want to be. I’d like to make writing my full time occupation instead of having a day job. So I’ll push myself to get there and I apologise in advance to anyone I might piss off in my journey to get there. It’ll all be worth it in the end, I promise. If someone doesn’t poison my coffee before I get there.
Thanks for being my guest, now it’s time to plug your work –
Blurb:
Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to care about him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far gone he already is. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who’s broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Buy Links:
Find Susan Mac Nicol:
Website -www.susanmacnicol.com
Twitter – @SusanMacnicol7
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
Blog http://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com/
Excerpt:
Shane Templar watched the man standing by the bed. Shane had no idea how he’d gotten himself into this situation, but he had to admit that this wasn’t the first time. He’d thought he was cleverer than he used to be. He went through a mental checklist as he ticked off the items that had led him into the predicament he now faced.
Male √
Gay √
Intelligent √
Street wise √
Pretty smoking hot √
Experienced Escort √
Pushover No- fucking- way.
So, with that all established in his head, he wondered how in hell he was the one with his five ten frame tied spread eagled to a bed in the middle of a client’s very luxurious hotel room in the middle of London while said client, David Debussy, a regular, jerked off in front of him.
Shane’s brain felt woolly and he knew he’d been slipped something. He cursed at his lack of observation and awareness. He never made mistakes like this. Never.
Shane had met Debussy, as requested, at the five-star Baglione Hotel in Kensington and escorted the man through an interminably boring dinner for stock brokers. But while the dinner had made him consider slitting his own throat, the man beside him had made it almost bearable. Shane enjoyed being with David. He’d partnered the man close to half a dozen times over the last year, very much as a companion only.
Not once during the previous ‘engagements’, as Shane’s exclusive escort agency, Carrington Knights, called them , had it turned into anything more than a quick kiss goodbye on the lips and a promise of another date soon. Shane had often left his engagements with David with a raging hard on and had to make his way to the exclusive gay club in the middle of the West End. At Essence, Shane could usually find someone to alleviate his situation and give him some relief.
David was in his mid-twenties, a few years younger than Shane. He was charming, with deep russet hair, a physique like a Greek God and a backside that made Shane’s fantasies take free reign. He had wealth from a trust fund his mother left him that made Konrad Feldman look like a pauper. He also had a domineering father who tried to rule David with an iron fist.
Debussy was intelligent, attentive, and as sexy as hell.
At the end of this evening, David had suggested Shane join him for a drink in his room. Shane had agreed. He had a very firm policy about sleeping with his clients. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t fuck them all. He was very choosy about whom he went home with. He had to like the person, feel comfortable with them and they had to make him feel horny. But after the second glass of champagne and a lot of hot and heavy kissing and crotch banging, he remembered nothing more. Until now.
Shane pulled at the cords that bound his wrists and ankles to the posts of a four poster bed. There was no way he was getting out of the bindings anytime soon. His naked body was splayed out on a luxurious Matelasse bed spread. The fierce erection that had sprung up when he and David were making out earlier had flagged.
He groaned, hoping to distract the man sitting on the corner of the bed close to him, frantically stroking his dick and looking as if he was going to let loose at any minute. The man’s eyes stared at him with a look of sheer greed, darting from Shane’s hairy chest to the blonde line of hair that ran down to his groin. Shane thought gloomily that at the moment there wasn’t much to see. He blamed it on whatever drug he’d been given.
“Erm, David? Honestly, you didn’t have to go all this trouble to jack off. I would have done it for you, you know that. Maybe if you took these ties off me, I could finish the job? Hand or mouth, I don’t mind either way. If you want to top, that’s fine with me too. I mean, I’m not even that hard either, so maybe we can work on that. Give you something more to look at.” He grinned through gritted teeth. There was no way Shane was getting the bastard off but it didn’t hurt to let him think that. He was more likely to punch the sly bugger in the nose. He disliked being made a fool of.
David moaned but didn’t stop what he was doing. “God, Shane, you are just perfect any way, you know that? You have got the most incredibly sexy body. Not buff but really toned.” His plummy tones, which earlier had been very seductive to Shane’s ears, were now an irritating high class whine in Shane’s brain. “I’m sorry I had to slip you something and tie you up, but I prefer you that way. “
Shane wondered if David had done this before and what the reaction had been from other men. He planned to make an example of the fact that it wasn’t the ‘done thing’ in his book just as soon as David cut him loose.
“I really wanted you tonight, Shane. I liked undressing you while you slept, and then splaying you out like that for me to see.” The man shivered in ecstasy and Shane could see he was close to climaxing, “That’s what gets me off. I mean, I paid for you right, so I should get what I want. The customer’s always right, correct?”
Who the fuck did this guy think he was, treating him like a piece of meat? He might have paid for the evening, but that didn’t give the bastard any right to do this to him.
“I didn’t think you’d mind.”
The whining increased, adding to the slow burn of fury that ebbed and waned through Shane’s chest. He gritted his teeth, needing to talk the other man into letting him go, not blasting him with a tirade of salty swear words Shane had learned from his fisherman grandfather. He had rather a rather profane mouth as a result.
“David, you look pretty close to eruption, so why don’t you let me go and I can help you with that? You like the look of my arse? Well, if you let me up, you can have it. It’s all yours.”
David moved closer to Shane, still tugging himself madly. David’s gasps grew more strident and louder as his body began to jerk uncontrollably. Shane closed his eyes in resignation. It was too late. The hot, wet, acrid smelling ejaculate shot all over his stomach and groin as David directed it over him and shouted out in release.
Shane was bathed in white spurts of semen that shot across his lower belly like silly string, warming his flesh and leaving sticky snail trails. It wasn’t the first time he’d been bathed in the stuff but it was the first time it had been done without his permission or willing participation. He opened his eyes to see David smiling at him.
“God, Shane, that was incredible,” David blabbered, missing Shane’s narrowed eyes and complete lack of humour as he bobbed around on the bed like a kid at Christmas. “Let me get those bonds off you. Hold on and I’ll untie you.”
A distinct sense of relief flooded Shane’s body that he wasn’t closeted with a psycho about to carve him up or rape him. He knew he’d been lucky tonight and that made him all the more mad. He didn’t like taking risks like this one.
Shane watched as the other man fiddled with the ankle restraints, and when he’d freed Shane’s legs, David moved up over Shane’s body to untie his wrists. He was oblivious to the stillness of Shane’s body and the tensing of his muscles as he waited to be set free.
As soon as he unties that first one, I am going to fucking deck him right across his pretty face and beat the shit out of him.
August 27, 2013
Wednesday Briefs: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 22
“C’mon, Dean!” Darryl slapped the ball as he walked closer. “No way Eric should’ve gotten past you with that move. Get your head in the game.”
Looking at his friend and captain, Dean tried to regain his focus. He had blown that play. “Sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t going to cut it if we end up running laps because we lose.” Darryl punted the ball toward midfield. “Something wrong?”
Dean shook his head, but Darryl kept staring. Wrong? No. But he knew he needed to do better. “No, nothing’s wrong. Just thinking about stuff.”
“Jase and Peter will be fine. The trial’s almost over.”
“It’s not that.” If only it was that simple. “It’s…never mind. Let’s play.”
He did his best to put on a good face. No way he wanted to be the reason his side ended up running twenty laps after practice. As the others moved into position, he gave Darryl a thumbs up sign when his captain looked back.
Whether or not Matt knew it, running the attack through Dean had paid off. Maybe it had been a test, but from the way Matt had been watching him, Dean couldn’t be sure.
Fine, if the other side thought he was the weak link, he’d step it up and stuff them. Hopefully Blake and the other attackers could put the ball in the back of the net before time ran out.
* * *
The engine cut off, but Darryl didn’t open the door. Staring straight ahead, it took Dean a moment before he realized they’d stopped. When he turned to his left, he saw Darryl staring a hole in him.
“Okay, ‘lil Tellerman, what’s going on?”
“Huh?” Dean knew it wouldn’t work, but he tried anyway. “What do you mean?”
“You. What’s going on? You were out of it at practice….”
“Hey, after that first mistake….”
“I kept back to cover for you.” Darryl’s eyes narrowed just enough to show his annoyance. “My plan had been to push forward and take it to them, but that changed when I couldn’t rely on you.”
Dean’s head snapped to the side and he clenched his jaw. “I didn’t need the help. I had it under control.”
“No. You didn’t.” Twisting in his seat, Darryl inched closer. “I’ve known you since you were six. I probably know you almost as well as Jase. So you wanna tell me what’s up or should I let Jase deal with it when he gets back.”
“Leave him out of this. He’s got enough going on.” Jason had practically shadowed him since the incident with the beer so adding another reason to his plate wouldn’t help Dean gain some freedom.
“I agree, but as his best friend, I can’t let it slide when I know you’re dealing with something.” He looked down at his keys. “Last thing he needs is to come back and find you’re in trouble.”
“I’m not in trouble.” The force of his words made him sound defensive. “Really, it’s not like that. I’m okay.”
“So if it’s not like that, what is it?”
He knew Darryl meant well, but Dean rarely confided in people and when he did it had always been his brother. Despite what he said, Darryl couldn’t replace Jason.
“I’m fine. Can we just let it go?”
“No.” Darryl put the key back in the ignition and started the car.
Panicked, Dean tried to open the door only to hear it lock on him. “What’re you doing?”
“We’re going to get coffee and talk.”
Before Dean could protest, the blue Mustang backed out of the spot, pivoted and they were moving east on Otis street.
“Seriously, just let it go.”
“No can do, ‘lil T.” Darryl spared him a quick glance. “Besides this is one of those, ‘ties that bind’ moments where you go from being Jase’s little brother, Deano, into being my friend.”
“Your friend?” Sure they were friendly, but Darryl was his brother’s best friend, someone who tolerated him because Jason asked him to.
“Yeah.” Darryl check left before he made a right turn. “I mean I know me and Jase have been tight since forever and he’ll always be my best friend, but you’re eighteen, you’re grown up. We’re teammates, and housemates. If you weren’t Jason’s brother, I consider you like an equal now, so I don’t see why I’d treat you worse for knowing you so long.”
Dean stared out the window, watching as they passed cars and people. In high school he’d been accepted as Jason’s little brother and allowed to hang out with him and his friends. After his brother graduated, Dean had his own friends and his own circle of people he ran with. Jason and Darryl always seemed so much older because they were in college already. But now?
He hadn’t noticed they’d reached the parking lot until Darryl spoke.
“Look, Dean. I won’t push it. There were…are…things I’d rather talk to my older brothers about than even Jason. But there are also things I’d rather not speak to them about.”
“It’s not that. I’m not…it’s not anything I don’t want to talk to you or Jason about.” Dean knew, despite all the teasing he gave out, Darryl never meant any harm. “I kinda need to sort it out myself.”
“No pressure, but if you need someone to talk to, you can always talk to me.” He held up his fist and after a few seconds, Dean tapped his to Darryl’s. “C’mon, let’s get something to drink and we can text Jason and see what happened in court today.”
Please check out the briefs of these other flashers:
August 26, 2013
Me and Papa at the Playground
Sunday the weather was beautiful, so ‘lil q and I went to the playground. I’ll add a few videos tomorrow.
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August 25, 2013
New Releases: Monday August 26, 2013
All authors face the same daunting task – how to get their book noticed. In an effort to help some of my fellow authors, every Monday I’m going to post some of the numerous new books that have been released. For the most part these will be M/M Fiction with a heavy bias on Romance. That will probably evolve over time, but for now that’s were it is.
I’ve not read everything that is listed, though I’ve probably read or will read many. Which means inclusion on the list isn’t an endorsement or suggestion. You should read the blurbs provided to see if you’re interested. I’ll post reviews to books I recommend under the ‘Books I Reviewed’ tab. This is just a partial list of what’s new for visitors of my site to check out. That said if you end up reading something listed here and want to comment – please do. I reserve the right, however, to delete nasty or personal comments.
If you’re an author and want to include a new release, email me your blurb, cover image, buy links and any personal links you want included. No excerpts, interviews, giveaways etc. Those are welcome, but can be discussed separately.
Stripped Bare; by Susan Mac Nicol
Blurb:
Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to care about him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far gone he already is. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who’s broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Buy links -
Find Susan Mac Nicol:
Website -www.susanmacnicol.com
Twitter – @SusanMacnicol7
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
Blog http://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com/
Dirty Martini; by Bette Browne
Blurb:
Daniel Fletcher knocks back his third vodka of the night after running into his ex out with the same lover he had found him with in their bed two months before. He’d ended their relationship that night but coming face to face with them still together makes the pain of the breakup still very real.
Nathan Smith has seen more men than he count drowning their sorrows in a bottle at his bar. He understands – he’s been there himself. One night a handsome brunette with sad blue eyes makes Nate want to assure him that everything will be okay. The connection he feels from a fleeting touch, as he walks the man out of the bar, shakes and stirs him in ways that he never expected.
What starts out as a means to forget might just be what they both need.
Buy Links:
BDP Digital Shop (Club members get a permanent 10% discount coupon):
Find Bette Browne:
Blog - http://bettebrowne.blogspot.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/bettebrowne
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12327021-bette-browne
About The Author:
Bette Browne is wife to an extremely understanding husband and mother to two very tolerant children. In her mind they are the most accepting family in the world, allowing her the freedom to indulge her passion for fiction, whether it is reading or writing it.
She enjoys traditional male/female romances, but male/male is her passion. In her mind nothing is more erotic than two (or more) beautiful men finding love together.
For Bette, the fight for tolerance in all its guises is an important one, and hopefully her contribution, even if it is only in the form of the occasional love story, is one she will continue to happily find the time for.
August 23, 2013
Guest Author: Renee Stevens and eBook Giveaway
Thank you Andy for allowing me to visit your blog today to talk about Challenging Fate and to give away a copy of the eBook!
I really enjoyed all the work that was put into Challenging Fate. At times I found it hard to include everything I wanted to and stay within the constraints that I had to work with, and there were a few. One of those constraints was the word count. It was difficult to figure out where to end the story, but I contented myself with the realization that wherever I ended it, I would always have the opportunity to continue the story at a later date if I decided to.
If you’ve followed the blog tour, then you’ll know that the main character, Cyan, has had a bit of a rough time up until now. If you haven’t, then check out the excerpts at the other blogs that I have visited up to this point!!
I thought it might be interesting to get some thoughts from Cyan up until this point in the story as each of the excerpts kind of go in order in the story, so we’re going to interview Cyan. I figure one question for each of the excerpts.
Me: Thank you for joining us on Andy’s blog Cyan.
Cyan: Thank you for bringing me along.
Me: I hate bringing up painful memories, but in the story, there is a part of the story where you are bound and thrown into a lake, yet you didn’t drown. What were your thoughts when you hit the water?
Cyan: You mean besides the complete and utter betrayal? *sigh* I hadn’t done anything wrong and was so tired of being an outcast, it was almost a relief, but at the same time I didn’t want to die. I was conflicted between welcoming the water closing over my head to being relieved when it never did. That was when I knew that I would do whatever I had to in order to survive.
Me: Thank you Cyan. When I visited over at Cia’s blog, I was kind of cruel and ended the excerpt with your father’s verbal reaction to your shifting for the first time. Had you really never heard such expletives from him?
Cyan: No, never. My father had always been very mild mannered. I’d barely ever even heard him raise his voice when I was growing up. Hearing him curse like that was terrifying and I instantly knew that something had gone very very wrong. I almost didn’t even want to know what kind of dragon I had turned into. *Voice drops to a whisper* Not if it had caused such a reaction in him.
Me: I know this is difficult to talk about Cyan, and I appreciate you being willing to talk about it. Last question. When we visited MA Church’s blog, we got to see a fight between you and one of your childhood friends. Would you have done anything different had you known it was Silas when he first attacked you?
Cyan: I have thought about that day countless times and wondered if I could have done anything different. I don’t see what I could have done. I didn’t fight back, even when Silas was hurt, it wasn’t from me fighting back, I was simply trying to get away. What I did was my only chance to get away. I had thought they’d pull back before they hit the canopy of trees. So now, short of letting them kill me, there was nothing I could have, or would have done differently.
Me: Thank you so much for joining us Cyan.
Cyan: Thank you for having me. Maybe next time you could pick some easier questions, or maybe you could even invite Ryder to join me. That could be fun. *Cyan smiles and walks away*
Blog: http://reneestevens.blogspot.com/
GayAuthors: Renee Stevens
Twitter: @Renee_Stevens
Facebook: Renee Stevens
Now for the giveaway! Leave a comment on this blog, and your email, to enter for a chance to win a copy of my eBook! Comments can be left through Monday, August 26th, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday in the Wednesday Briefs post. All commenters will also be entered for a chance to win either a $10 Amazon gift card or a $10 Gay Authors Gift Voucher to be given away at the end of the month on my own blog, Nature of the Heart!
Blurb:Cyan waited years to discover what dragon spirit the fates gifted him with. He anticipated his first flight, his parents at his side, as he launched himself into the sky for the first time. Best of all, one day he’d find his mate and spend the rest of his life with someone by his side. Unfortunately for him, things didn’t go exactly as he’d always planned.
Excerpt:
Cyan traipsed through the forest, eager to explore the cottage he’d spotted from the sky. How he’d missed it when he’d picked this area as his new home he didn’t know, but he wasn’t going to dwell on it. When he’d first come here, he had picked a cave to call home until he could build something more permanent but if the cottage was uninhabited he would claim it for his own. Despite the pain of the attack that had forced him to leave his home behind, he was cautiously optimistic that things were finally beginning to look up.
He approached the cottage cautiously, wishing that he had dared approach from the sky. He would have, but if the cottage was occupied he didn’t want whoever lived there to know that a dragon was in the vicinity. There were those out there who would hunt him and after killing him, would use his scales and heavy skin to create their own armor. On second thought, maybe that wouldn’t have been such a bad thing. It would have taken the decision of whether to live or die out of his hands. He was nearly at the door when a scream ripped through the air and made him jump back in alarm even as something inside him called out for him to answer.
Cyan dashed back to the tree line and was trying to decide a course of action when he heard it again. Whether someone was hurt or being hurt he didn’t know, but obviously the cottage was not as deserted as he’d hoped. He crept towards one of the few windows adorning the outside walls and peered over the windowsill, recoiling in shock at the scene inside and forcing himself not to puke.
A man was curled naked into a fetal position on the stone floor, one ankle shackled with a heavy chain to a bolt in the middle of the room. There was no doubt he was injured and the source of the agonized screams; angry burns were already starting to blister across his chest and arms. Another man, his floor length robe gaping open to reveal a pasty white bare chest, stood over him.
Cyan studied the robed man, trying to figure out what was going on. The fire poker, still red from being in the coals, clutched in the robed man’s hand had Cyan’s dragon roaring from his depths. Cyan’s hands clutched at his stomach as pain exploded inside him. It felt as though sharp claws were slashing against his insides. It wasn’t until Cyan looked at the man’s other hand before he realized what had his dragon in such an uproar.
Available For Sale At:
Amazon
All Romance
Gay Authors
All commenters will be entered to not only win a copy of Challenging Fate, but also entered to win one of two gift cards that I will be giving away on my own blog at the end of the month. Don’t forget to visit my blog for an extra chance to win the gift cards!
August 31st: Nature of the Heart Amazon Gift Card & GayAuthors.org Gift Voucher Giveaway
Bio:
Renee Stevens resides in Wyoming with her husband, and while they have no two-legged kids, they have plenty of the four legged variety. With three canines and three felines, her life is never boring. When not sitting in front of her laptop working on her next story, Renee prefers to escape to the great outdoors.
Renee began writing in her early teens but didn’t get serious about being an author until her mid-twenties. Since then she has written a number of stories, most of which can be found online for free. She hopes to e-publish a few more of her works in the very near future.
While she does have some modern pieces, her favorite characters to work with are shifters and vampires. When not writing, camping, or refereeing the critters, Renee spends her time as a Moderator and the Anthology Coordinator over at GayAuthors.org
August 21, 2013
Guest Author: Rob Colton
Today I’m pleased to welcome Rob Colton as a guest author. I first met Rob when he started publishing his work on Gay Authors. Since then he’s quickly started publishing new works and look to have a couple more coming in the very near future. As part of his visit, Rob is showing off his new cover art for The Cassini Mission.
Guest Author: Rob Colton
Welcome Rob, why don’t you start by telling everyone a bit about yourself.
Hi everyone! Thanks for having me on your site today, Andrew.
My name is Rob Colton and I’m here to chat a little about myself as well as my new ebook release, The Ranch Foreman.
I’m a forty-something-year-old gay man. I grew up in Michigan, but currently live in Atlanta with my husband. We tied the knot this summer on our ten year anniversary in Washington DC. All in all, this year has added up to be simply amazing.
I know you have a following on Gay Authors and other on line sites? How long have you been writing?
I started writing pretty late in life, back in 2008 when I was in my late thirties. After building up a small cache of stories, I posted the first online in January 2010 using the username “robcub32”. The support I’ve received over the years from my fans has been overwhelming.
![RanchForeman[The]LG](http://andrewqgordon.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/ranchforemanthelg.jpg)
Tell us a bit about your newest release The Ranch Foreman?The Ranch Foreman is a contemporary western story, set on a cattle ranch in the Midwest. Young ranch hand Matty Ward finds himself attracted to his new boss, burly cowboy Baxter Hollingsworth. Usually the one being pursued, Matty finds the closeted cowboy a challenge he can’t refuse.
You’ve written Science Fiction – The Degan Incident was my first exposure to your work, but this one is a contemporary m/m story. What other genres do you write?
Historically I’ve written mostly contemporary stories, but I love the science fiction and paranormal genres. My second novella to be published by Dreamspinner Press is a paranormal story.
Which genre do you like best? Which one do you find the hardest?
Right now, I’m in a paranormal kind of mood, so that’s what I’ve been working on.
I find Sci-Fi the hardest to write because you have to do a lot of world building as well as making sure to include a solid action/adventure storyline. But you get to create your own world from scratch and that’s what makes it fun—to write as well as read.
Tell us something(s) interesting that is not in the blurb?
The Ranch Foreman is a steamy romance. Baxter is a closeted gay man in his forties, and I feel he is accurately and realistically 
portrayed as such. There are points in the story where he may do things that make him unlikeable, but it is true to the character. While there are no flowers or long walks on the beach in this story, there is still an element of romance and the two characters naturally get their happy ending.
Have you ever based characters on anyone you know?
Of course! A few of my characters have been inspired by people I know. And it’s no secret that in many of my early stories, the smaller guy is a representation of my younger self and my fantasies.
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
I love the collaborative part of the process, working with my beta readers, then the publisher and editors, as well as the cover artist.
What’s your least favorite?
My least favorite part of the process is waiting to hear back from the publisher after submitting the manuscript. I’m normally a patient person, but the wait absolutely kills me!
Since there is always another story to tell, what are you working on now?I’m finalizing The Cassini Mission, which is a follow-up to The Degan Incident. This story focuses on exobiologist Aron Adler, who appears in The Degan Incident. The Cassini Mission dives deeper into what exactly was happening to Devin in the first story. It will first be available in the premium area on Gay Authors and then it will be released as an ebook.
I also have an upcoming paranormal novella coming from Dreamspinner Press in February/March 2014. It’s called An American Lamb in Europe.
And there’s some surprises coming in between that I hope to share soon…
What have you read lately that most people haven’t read but should?
The last book I read was Thick as Thieves by Tali Spencer. It was a great read. If you like my stories, I think you’d like this one too.
(An excellent choice, Rob. Tali is one of my favorite authors.)
If you could meet any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
I was always a big fan of Michael Crichton. Being a huge techie, I loved the way he used technology in his sci-fi thrillers. I was sad to see him go so young.
What’s a fun – non-writing – day for you?
I love hanging out and relaxing with my husband on the weekends. We go to the movies, maybe take a nap with our dog, then go out to dinner.
Besides reading and writing, what else do you enjoy?
I’m a software developer by day, so I enjoy computers and gadgets. I also go to the movies at least once a week.
Last question is all yours – feel free to talk about anything you want your readers to know about you, your book, anything at all.
I just wanted to thank everyone for their support. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the continued encouragement from my fans.
Thanks for being my guest, now it’s time to plug your work –
Blurb:
When Madison “Matty” Ward finds himself out of work and without a place to live, his cousin comes through with a job on the Gates cattle ranch. Despite not knowing anything about herding cattle or taking care of horses, Matty does his best to impress the older hunky foreman, Baxter Hollingsworth. Baxter is drawn to the new young hand, but he’s deeply closeted, and after an openly gay veterinarian shows he’s interested in Matty, Baxter’s repressed feelings lead to an explosive encounter. Baxter then withdraws—leaving Matty feeling angry and used—until an accident forces him to confront his fears.
Buy Link:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4093
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theranchforeman-1268438-145.html
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EJ7AAH8/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116451856?ean=2940148394570
Excerpt:
MATTY sat in one of the rockers on the bunkhouse porch and watched the storm. Rain came down in sheets. Thunder clapped as lightning flashed. The storm around him was violent, but in a way, it was also calming. It cleared Matty’s head and gave him time to think about his situation.
A sudden crack of thunder had Matty jumping out of his skin. That one was close. Too close. Matty didn’t think it was possible, but the rain came down even harder, and the lightning and thunder increased in intensity.
It was several minutes later that all hell broke loose.
Baxter’s truck pulled in front of the bunkhouse and skidded to a halt, sliding in the mud. He jumped out of the cab and ran past Matty into the bunkhouse.
Matty hurried in after him, wanting to find out what was going on.
“All hands,” Baxter shouted. “We have a fallen tree in the east pasture. We need to repair the fence and round up the herd. Let’s go!”
Everyone immediately jumped into action. They scrambled to get their boots on and grab their jackets, then were out the door. Matty followed the hands to the barn where they quickly saddled the horses.
Amid the ordered chaos, the two cattle dogs ran around, barking like crazy as if they knew what was going on.
Matty grabbed a blanket and saddle and got Tornado ready to ride. With Clyde gone, Tornado had become Matty’s horse. Luckily, he wasn’t as bad as his name made him out to be.
“No way.” Baxter snatched the reins from Matty’s hands.
Matty tried to grab them back. “You said all hands. I can help.”
“You’re not experienced enough to ride in the storm.”
“I’m going.”
Baxter cursed under his breath. “Then you ride in the truck with Brian.”
Matty raced to the pickup truck to help Brian and George load the last of the repair equipment. He tossed the chainsaw’s carrying case into the bed of the truck, then hopped onto the passenger seat before Brian sped off for the east pasture.
As they approached the break in the fence, Matty could see the smoldering tree trunk. After being struck by lightning, the giant tree had fallen over and ripped a gaping hole in the fence. The stupid cows were pushing their way through the break. The dogs took off after them, already knowing what they were supposed to do.
Baxter yelled over the noise of the storm, directing half the crew to fix the fence while the other half rounded up the herd.
Matty was assigned fence duty. He and Brian were going to use the truck’s winch to pull the bulk of the tree off the fence so it could be repaired.
It was nearly impossible to see with the rain coming down so hard and only the light of the truck’s headlights to guide him. Adrenaline pumped through Matty’s veins as the team worked together. It was the most terrifying and the most exciting thing he’d ever done.
Matty looped the metal braided rope under and over the tree trunk, then hooked it and gave it a tug to make sure it was secure. “Okay! Go!” he shouted to Brian and gave a thumbs-up sign as he stepped back away from the tree.
Brian got into the truck and activated the winch. The line went taut and then began to pull the tree.
Matty held on to his Stetson and shielded his eyes from the rain. When the tree began to move, he backed out of its way. The winch and the metal cable grinded as the tree slowly moved. The tree trunk momentarily caught.
“Look out!”
Matty turned toward the voice. Lightning flashed, and in that instant, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a large tree limb just before everything went dark.
Bio:
Rob Colton is a software developer by day, and avid reader of romance novels at night. A romantic at heart, he loves stories that feature big, burly men who find true love and happy endings.
Rob grew up in northern Michigan and currently lives in the Atlanta area with his very supportive husband and their very spoiled miniature schnauzer.
Social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/robcub32
