Andrew Q. Gordon's Blog, page 61
August 20, 2013
Wednesday Briefs: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 21
Taking the steps two at a time, Dean felt his heart race as he reached the second floor. It’s not that he didn’t like Peter–he did–but he’d been trying to speak to Jason alone all day. Of course had he said something, Jason could have come down to Dean’s room, but that would’ve drawn more attention.
He poked his head into ‘Jason’s’ room. Not that he expected his brother to be there. He always stayed in ‘Peter’s’ room. “Jase?”
“In D’s room.” Jason’s voice came from across the hall.
A frown creased Dean’s face. If he didn’t want to speak in front of Peter, he really didn’t want to talk in front of Darryl.
Jason stepped half out of Darryl’s room. “What’s up?”
“Um…I um…never mind we can talk later.” He really didn’t want to wait, but this wasn’t the time.
Jason’s brow narrowed. “Whoa. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Dean knew his lie wouldn’t hold up with his brother. “I just wanted to talk about something.”
“You sure? I mean, I’m not busy.”
Dean shook his head. “It can wait. I wanted to talk to you about this girl I met.”
“Whoa thar, ‘lil D!” Dean cringed at his stupidity as Darryl’s voice echoed throughout the house. “You’re asking him about girls? Jason?“
“He didn’t–” Jason staggered into the hallway and Darryl appeared behind him. “–hey!”
Darryl patted Jason on the back. “Sorry, Jase, coming through.”
“I…I’m not asking him how to get a girl.” If there was a worse time to have tried this, Dean didn’t know when that would have been. “I just wanted to talk to him about…something.”
“And that is why you should come to me.” Darryl put his arm around Dean.
Shrugging off his friend’s hand, Dean ducked underneath and took a step back. “Thanks, Darryl, but I’ll just talk to Jase.”
“Bad move, ‘lil D.” Darryl’s overly dramatic disappointment caused Dean to snort. He looked at his brother and found him rolling his eyes.
“If he can’t handle it, Darryl, I’ll come see you.”
“Smart man. I’ll keep my door open as I’m sure you’ll be needing to talk.”
“Whatever.” Jason turned his back on them both and headed for his and Peter’s room.
“Um, Jase.” Dean waited for Jason to turn around. “Do you mind if we use my room? I’d rather not have Pete come in while we’re talking.”
“Sure.” He gave Dean a quick nod. “Are you sure everything is okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I just would rather do this alone.”
Dean regretted asking to use his room when he saw how messy he’d left it. Clearing some of his dirty clothes off a chair he flopped down onto his bed. Jason shook his head, but didn’t say anything as he took a seat.
“I know. It’s a mess.”
“Dean, school hasn’t started yet. How are you going to function in this… this….”
“Shithole?” He raised an eyebrow and got a smirk in return from Jason.
“That’s a word for it. I’d have gone with craphole, but shithole works.” Jason shrugged. “Sorry, I know I promised not to get on you, so I won’t, but….”
Scanning his room, he knew his brother was right. He wouldn’t be able to get through the semester living like this. “I know I need to clean it and I will after we talk.”
“If you need help, let me know.”
“It’s cool, I can handle it.”
“So.” Jason leaned back giving him that ‘how can I help’ look he’d given Dean since they were kids. If anyone would talk to him straight – no pun intended – it was Jason. “What’s going on?”
“Well, Emily and I kinda split.”
“You agreed to break up or you dumped her?”
“Actually, she dumped me.” Dean shrugged. After a lot of thought he realized the only part that bothered him was that she did the breaking up. “It wasn’t going to work. She wanted me to come see her every weekend.”
“Gotcha. Sorry, I didn’t know you two were having issues.”
He tucked his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. “Not sure how to put this, but I kinda knew we wouldn’t last once I got to school. Long distance really isn’t my thing.”
He also knew being away from home he wasn’t going to remain faithful even if they tried to stay together. Drawing a deep breath, he let it out in a rush.
“I also want to be single once school started.”
“Okay.”
“I know, I’m a douche, but I’m being honest. It’s not like we were crazy in love and I want to be able to date someone here. That and, well you know, maybe get laid.”
He peeked out of the corner of his eye and found Jason smiling. “That’s fair enough. I know how I felt once I left the house. Of course I had a couple other obstacles.”
Dean grinned at his brother. “Just a couple.”
“So what’s the problem? You seem to have this under control.”
Running his hand up either side of his head, Dean strenuously rubbed his blond hair until it hurt. He closed his eyes and pushed the back of his head deeper into his pillow. “I…how…There are so many hot girls to choose from, how do I know which one to go after?”
For a few moments of silence, he heard Jason laugh. “I have no idea. Being gay didn’t give me ‘so many hot guys to choose from’ on campus.”
“Yeah, but you and Pete really love each other. How do I know when I’ve met that person?”
“You won’t – at least not at first.” Jason pushed himself out of the chair and picked up a soccer ball from the floor. “My best advice is to find someone you like, go on a few dates and see where it goes.”
“Right, but what if you have two someones you like? How do you decide which one?”
Jason snorted and threw him the ball. “Maybe Darryl was right and you should talk to him.”
Don’t forget to check out the briefs of these other flashers:
Julie Lynn Hayes
August 19, 2013
A little song and some counting.
If a picture is worth a thought words, this 50 second video is worth a who lot more. ’lil q isn’t 23 months old yet so I was pretty amazed at this – especially when she counts to 12 at the end.
-AQG [Proud Papa]
New Releases: Monday August 19, 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.
The Ranch Foreman; by Rob Colton
Blurb:
![RanchForeman[The]LG](http://andrewqgordon.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/ranchforemanthelg.jpg)
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.
Cover Artist: Leah Kaye Suttle
Purchase Links:
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
Author 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.
Author Links:
https://www.facebook.com/robcub32
* * * * *
Return To Destiny; by Vona Logan
Available Wednesday the 21st of August at Wilde City Press.
Blurb:
Wade Summers is a decent guy… who happens to have a ghost taking advantage of his body at will. His attempts to escape it have failed, not that Wade is complaining. But while his body is teased, tantalized and taken to new heights of pleasure, his soul longs to know more about this enigmatic lover.
In 2022, erotic dreams and déjà vu of a gorgeous man are driving Michael Turner insane. When a strange old man convinces him he’s let Mr. Right slip through his fingers, Michael desperately tries to figure out at what point he missed getting the man of his dreams and will stop at nothing to return to his destiny.
Buy Link:
http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-romance/return-to-destiny/#.UhGiIpL-GCI
Author Bio:
Vona Logan grew up in South Africa and has always been a romantic at heart. Then one day a whole new world opened up to her when she sneaked off with one of her mother’s Mills & Boons. Her love for reading was born and continued to grow until about two years ago when she discovered the world of m/m writing for the first time. Always on the backburner, her desire to write her own love stories ignited and wouldn’t be silenced. So, she wrote her first short story in 2012 and her dream became a reality.
Vona lives in stunning New Zealand with the man of her dreams, a bunch of busy kids, four cats, a dog, and too many guinea pigs to even start counting.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vona.logan
Blog: http://vonalogan.blogspot.co.nz/
* * * * *
Non-Negotiable; by T. D. Green
Blurb:
Jacob Kerns, the advertising director for a small national greeting card company, is due for a promotion. His ambitions for advancement are jeopardized when he learns his next big contract will be handled by none other than Alexander Cory, his ex-lover from college.
Seeing Alex again opens the old wounds of that long ago betrayal, but Jake endeavors to put personal feelings aside to do his job. If only Alex would let him! When Jake’s boss falls ill, secrets come out.
Will Jake find love again or is the whole thing non-negotiable?
BUY LINKS:
BDP Digital Shop (Club members get a permanent 10% discount coupon): http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/home#!non-negotiable/c7rc
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EAQS58E
All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nonnegotiable-1259035-149.html
Rainbow eBooks: http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=11489
Book Strand: http://www.bookstrand.com/non-negotiable
AUTHOR LINKS:
Blog: http://tressgreen.blogspot.com.au/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wl552
* * * *
Heart of Glass by L. J. Harris
Blurb:
Days after arriving in Australia for a working holiday, Zack Doherty is blindsided by the connection he instantly feels to Heath Connors, but circumstances don’t work in their favour. Zack is uncharacteristically forward in pushing Heath to accept a date when fate gives him a second opportunity.
Heath has only recently had the courage to admit his true self, walking away from his marriage and a good job when he could no longer lie to himself. The attraction he feels for a stranger that fleetingly crossed his path confirms he made the right choice.
Will Zack be the one to mend Heath’s heart of glass?
BUY LINKS:
BDP Digital Shop (Club members get a permanent 10% discount coupon): http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/#!heart-of-glass/caxz
All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofglass-1267478-149.html
Rainbow eBooks: http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=11532
Book Strand: http://www.bookstrand.com/heart-of-glass-0
AUTHOR LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LJHarrisAuthor
Blog: http://www.theworldofljharris.blogspot.com.au/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LJHarrisAuthor
* * * * *
Better Together by DaNay Smith
Blurb:
Greyson Welles moved to Baltimore so that his long-time partner, Dominic Nash, could fulfill his dream of an internship at John Hopkins Hospital. It’s been four years though, and Greyson is becoming increasingly unhappy. He never gets to see Dominic, and his own promising art career is on hold, instead he paints family portraits for a living.
Dominic can see that Greyson is unhappy with the long hours he puts in, but when his solution is to propose to the love of his life, he is surprised that not only does Greyson turn him down but leaves to pursue his own career dreams in New York.
Five years later Greyson can only think of one man able to soothe his wounded pride when there’s a less than stellar response to his latest collection – what will he do?
BUY LINKS:
BDP Digital Shop (Club members get a permanent 10% discount coupon): http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/#!better-together/cwm5
All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bettertogether-1269330-356.html
Rainbow eBooks: http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=11633
Book Strand: http://www.bookstrand.com/better-together
AUTHOR LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danay.writes
Blog: http://www.danaywrites.blogspot.com.au/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danaywrites
August 13, 2013
Wednesday Briefs: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 20
As the door slowly closed, Blake felt his body unclench. He’d forced himself to hold Ethan’s hand as they walked across campus. Not because he didn’t like it, but it still terrified him. Coming out to his teammates had been hard, but he knew he’d have supporters there. Out in general? It gave him more respect for people like Peter and Ethan who’d been out since they started college.
Ethan twisted until their bodies almost touched. Then, as if he decided they were still too far apart, Ethan pulled Blake closer. “Tonight went well.”
Blake let his boyfriend bring their lips together. The kiss ended quickly and Ethan leaned back. He never moved his hands from around Blake’s waist, but his eyes said enough.
“What’s wrong, Blake?”
“Nothing.” He’d barely kissed Ethan back so he knew saying, ‘nothing’ wouldn’t be enough. “Sorry. I was distracted.”
“Distracted? Wow, here I though my kisses were distracting.”
Despite the attempted humor, Blake could see the hurt in Ethan’s face.
“No, that’s not what I meant. Kissing you always makes me feel…better…happy….”
“Horny?” Ethan wiggled his eyebrows, getting a laugh from Blake.
“Nah, not that. Try very horny.” He leaned in and made sure he gave Ethan a proper kiss.
“Hmmm. Much better.” Moving back, Ethan flopped on the bed. “So what’s going on in there? Still thinking about dinner?”
“No. Yes. Some, but that’s not all of it.” He moved toward his bed and lay down next to Ethan. It still made him smile how easily he accepted Ethan’s presence next to him. “Dinner went well enough.”
Ethan levered himself up and sat crossed legged facing Blake. “Well enough? Everyone was cool. What would have made it better?”
“Actually, Ted at the end of the table gave me nasty looks all night.”
Cocking his head to the left, Ethan closed an eye. “Are you sure you’re not looking for danger where none exists?”
“No, Ted’s a dick. I’ve caught him making gay jokes – well, I assumed they were gay jokes based on what I’d heard. And his two slapdick buddies, Alan and Mick, just laugh, so I assume they’d rather not have a gay teammate, let alone two.”
“Okay, so there are a few ass-munches on the team, you know they’ll never say anything to you. Not with everyone who’d come down on them hard if they did.”
“No, my point is that things went well, but it’s not all Shangri-La.”
Ethan snorted. “That’s a Jason word.”
Smirking, Blake shrugged. “Guilty. Actually it’s never really been the team I worried about. That’s like an island of safety. When I’m not on the pitch it feels riskier.”
Ethan’s lips went tight and pulled to left. He nodded slowly, his eyes focused on the wall. “I wish I could say there are no risks to being out. I mean I’ve never had anyone gay bash me, but I have friends who’ve been harassed, bullied and one even got punched in the face. And of course there’s Pete.”
“Yeah.” Blake never worried about someone doing to him what Jordan did to Pete. “People get mugged and beaten who aren’t gay, so there’s risks to everyone.”
“True, but this is one more reason for it to happen.” Ethan stared at Blake and a fake smile curled his lips. “Wow, that’s a mood killer.”
“Sorry, it doesn’t really matter.”
“Whoa.” Ethan scooted closer. “Nothing else matters more than you feeling safe – well maybe you being safe, but you know what I mean.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
“No, stop. I cut you off.” He grabbed Blake’s hand and started to rub it gently. “What else is bugging you?”
Struggling to collect his thoughts, he tried to ignore the contact with Ethan. “The problem is I like to plan things but I can’t control this. I mean, I’ve already got a contingency plan worked out in case Ben doesn’t want to room with me after I tell him.”
“I don’t understand why you don’t just move in with Jase and the others.”
“Ha!” He shook his head then kissed Ethan’s fingers. “You just want me to move in because it will be easier for us to stay together when you visit.”
“My turn to be guilty. But why don’t you move in with them?”
Blake had had this conversation with himself so many times he didn’t remember if he hoped Ben took it well or not anymore. “It’s complicated, but it boils down to I like being normal.”
“Normal.” Ethan’s smile disappeared as he repeated the word. “You mean pretend you’re not gay?”
“No, no.” He cupped Ethan’s face and pulled him closer for a kiss. “Everyone in that house is something of a local celebrity. After what happened to Pete, well he and Jason are all over the news again now that Jordan is on trial. They’re been news crews by several times already. But Jason and Darryl would be news worthy even if nothing had happened to Pete. They were junior captains of the soccer team that won the league championship for the first time in ten years. Dean’s a star because he was one of the top 100 in country before he committed to play for Graydon.”
“So you think you’re not good enough?”
Blake shook his head. “Not that either. The school year hasn’t started and it’s already the hang out for the team. Imagine when everyone’s back. I need less distraction if I’m going to keep up my GPA.”
Ethan’s smile returned. “You surprise me ever time I think I have you figured out.”
Before Blake could answer, Ethan started to kiss him again. When Ethan’s tongue nudge Blake’s lips, he quickly forgot about Ben, housing, or any negative reactions. He focused on how Ethan tasted, the way his tongue excited him, and how his body reacted to the feel of his boy friend’s body on his.
“If this is how you react,” Blake said when Ethan paused to pull off his shirt. “I’ll have to surprise you more often.”
Please check out the briefs of these other flashers:
A.R. Von
Victoria Adams
Nephylim
Lily Sawyer
Cia Nordwell
Renee Stevens
Tali Spencer
Michael Mandrake
Julie Lynn Hayes
August 12, 2013
New Releases: Monday August 12, 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.
Stealing The Wind: by Shira Anthony
Mermen of Ea: Book One
Blurb:
Taren Laxley has never known anything but life as a slave. When a lusty pirate kidnaps him and holds him prisoner on his ship, Taren embraces the chance to realize his dream of a seagoing life. Not only does the pirate captain offer him freedom in exchange for three years of labor and sexual servitude, but the pleasures Taren finds when he joins the captain and first mate in bed far surpass his greatest fantasies.
Then, during a storm, Taren dives overboard to save another sailor and is lost at sea. He’s rescued by Ian Dunaidh, the enigmatic and seemingly ageless captain of a rival ship, the Phantom, and Taren feels an overwhelming attraction to Ian that Ian appears to share. Soon Taren learns a secret that will change his life forever: Ian and his people are Ea, shape-shifting merfolk… and Taren is one of them too. Bound to each other by a fierce passion neither can explain or deny, Taren and Ian are soon embroiled in a war and forced to fight for a future—not only for themselves but for all their kind.
Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4101&cPath=55_484
AllRomanceEbooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stealingthewind-1267623-145.html
Bio:
Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer in her last incarnation, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.
Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 35’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.
Shira’s Blue Notes Series of classical music themed gay romances was named one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Word’s “Best Series of 2012,” and The Melody Thief was named one of the “Best Novels in a Series of 2012.” The Melody Thief also received an honorable mention, “One Perfect Score” at the 2012 Rainbow Awards.
Shira can be found on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shira.anthony
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4641776.Shira_Anthony
Twitter: @WriterShira
Website: http://www.shiraanthony.com
E-mail: shiraanthony@hotmail.com
Where My Love Lies Dreaming: by Christopher Hawthorne Moss
Blurb:
As the famous riverboat Le Beau Soleil lazily steams down the mighty Mississippi into the heart of the South, distractions of every sort attempt to pull agent for the Treasury Johnny Stanley away from his assignment. While liquor and gaming are no great temptations, his fascination with Le Beau Soleil’s owner, the debonair Frankie Deramus, means Johnny’s steadfast denial of his attraction to men is no longer feasible. Johnny fights his lust, but when he must come to Frankie’s aid, he can’t ignore his urges any longer.
Their passionate love affair falls apart when Johnny refuses to admit two men can be in love. A bitter confrontation between the lovers at a Mardi Gras masquerade forces Johnny to run north. Frankie tries to follow, but the Southern states secede one by one, making it impossible to track Johnny down. The Civil War pits brother against brother and separates lover from lover. When at last the lovers meet again, it’s on the battlefield….
Buy Links:
Bio:
Christopher Hawthorne Moss wrote his first short story when he was seven and has spent some of the happiest hours of his life fully involved with his colorful, passionate and often humorous characters. Moss spent some time away from fiction, writing content for websites before his first book came out under the name Nan Hawthorne in 1991. He has since become a novelist and is a prolific and popular blogger, the historical fiction editor for the GLBT Bookshelf, where you can find his short stories and thoughtful and expert book reviews. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his husband of over thirty years and four doted upon cats. He owns Shield-wall Productions at http://www.shield-wall.com. He welcomes comment from readers sent to christopherhmoss@gmail.com and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
August 11, 2013
WIP Updates
It’s been a while since I’ve done any kind of update and since I’ve had a few questions recently about the sequel to The Last Grand Master, I figured I’d post something. My goal is to try to do these once a month, so if you’re interested, keep an eye out.
The Eye and the Arm – Champion Of The Gods Book 2:
This one has bedeviled me some. When I originally wrote COTG it was going to be a 4 books series. The original Books 2-4 were about 550K words unedited so they would roughly end up between 300-350 words. But those are not the appropriate numbers in the publishing world I’ve learned. 120K is about the max a publisher will accept – a bit more if necessary and justified. The problem was I had about 40K left over from the original Book 1 when I submitted The Last Grand Master. There was no way I could condense 600K into 120.
No problem, you say. Just break it into smaller books, right? Wrong.
Every book, even sequels in a series, needs a beginning, middle and an end. There still needs to be conflict, tension and a resolution. Think Harry Potter. Each book had it’s own adventure and dilemma to resolve, while the overarching Voldemort plot line continued for the series. The original COTG Book 2 had all those elements, but the resolution came toward the end. So that required a MAJOR rewrite. Major. Trying to create an enjoyable Book 2, with all the needed elements, AND not mucking with the story line too much in 120K words has proven incredibly difficult. Much harder than writing a new book from scratch.
The good news is I think I’ve finally managed to clear the creative hurled that has held this up. I’d say I’m about 80% through with the rewrite and that just leaves the serious editing of the rest of the rough draft. And, the rest of the books should prove easier to break up into smaller chunks without a major rewrite. Which is a long way of saying the major blockage – the rewrite of the middle of Book 2 – is almost cleared away. I’m hopeful that by the next WIP- Update in September, I’ll have more definitive information to share.
Purpose:
Sorry to all who have asked but there is no sequel planned. The reasons are many, but the two main ones are: lack of a good story and lack of sales. At present I have an outline of an idea for a sequel, but it’s not fully formed. More to the point it is much more of an action/adventure plot than the requisite romance that seems to be required in the genre. But the bigger issue is sales or more properly, a general lack of them. I’m not sure at this point if a publisher would take a sequel given the limited sales Purpose saw. Yes, those who read it seemed to enjoy it quite a lot, but it never took off and sales were sluggish at best. So for now, no sequel. Maybe I’ll dabble with a novella or short story. Perhaps that would generate some more interest in the book and it would than be worthy of a sequel.
Other Stuff:
Right now I have a paranormal and two contemporary stories in partial stages of doneness. I hate giving out plot specifics on a story, so I won’t, but for the two contemporary stories, I’m about 5 chapters into each and the paranormal, I’ve written about 7 chapters. All need some work, but when I get stuck on The Eye And The Arm, I generally turn to work on one of these. My goal is to finish The Eye And The Arm before I focus on anything else too seriously.
Two other things:
1) Wednesday briefs. I’m planning to continue them for the time being. Not sure it will be every week, but I’ll try to do it most weeks.
2) The other thing I’m toying with is to rework Second Shot and turn into two smaller books. If I do this, I’m not sure what to do with them – either give them away for free or perhaps list them on Amazon for .99 cents as a way to generate more name recognition. I’ve no firm plans yet on whether I’ll do it, but it is something I’ve been considering. Maybe I’ll keep that in my back pocket for those days when I can’t seem to write anything new.
Questions, comments or even criticism is welcome.
-AQG
August 10, 2013
The Race Is On – Book Two of – How The Light Gets In: By Lily Velden
I don’t usually write separate blog posts to push the work of other authors, but then Lily isn’t just another author to me, she is a dear friend. There are many wonderful things I could say about her as a person – and well, yes maybe all the gifts she’s sent ‘lil q had a teeny tiny hand in that, but this goes well beyond that – but I want to talk about her new book; The Race Is On.
[Just to be clear, Lily didn't ask me to do this and in fact she might be a tad miffed with me for doing it, but I'll risk her ire just this once.]
I’ll try to be honest with this post, because I really think all those: ‘Buy this book!” or “Worth The Money!” or “Best book in a long time” ‘reviews are just platitudes of friends and aren’t worth the pixels needed to write them. When I read all the five star reviews from people who are clearly ‘friends’ of the author and they do little to explain why the book is so worth it, or the best in a while, I ignore them or worst start looking for what I’d consider an honest review and that generally means a bad one.
So while I think all those rave reviews are true for Lily and her work, I want to go a bit beyond that. [I will of course link you to a wonderful review of the book from a review site just to show you that I'm not totally alone in my views.]
For me, the most important part of a ‘good book’ is the characters. It’s been said that every plot has been written already in some variation or another and that what makes a book worth buying is how the author makes it their own. This is another way of saying, the characters are really important. When you read one of Lily’s books, you find the characters feel like real people. Not characters in a book so much as people Lily knows and who she is watching and writing about. You walk away feeling like these are now friends of yours who you will think about from time to time and wonder what they are doing or how their lives are going. To me that is a book worth reading.
So if you feel like I do and want a book with excellent characters, ones you will laugh and cry with and wish you could meet in person – buy one of Lily’s books.
If you’ve not read Same Page, you should buy that one first. If you need more proof – here’s a link to a review that said:
Extremely well written, emotional and passionate, Same Page is a love story at heart. Jaxon and Liam are three-dimensional characters with flaws and depth. Velden even gives us some page worthy secondary characters with Garrett and Alison, the two leading men’s respective best friends. Who, coincidentally, end up falling in love with each other. I anxiously await book 2 in this series, I’d pre-order it if Dreamspinner had it listed! HIGHLY recommend this book.
MM Good Book Reviews – Same Page – Review By Tams
The Race Is On
How The Light Gets In – Book Two
Blurb:
Hollywood heartthrob Jaxon Moncrieff and Liam Lassiter are finally on the same page: committed and in it for the long haul. Now they just have to prepare for the inevitable fallout when they reveal their relationship. Between Jaxon’s career and Liam’s need to prepare for a life in the limelight, they decide to wait until filming of Jaxon’s latest project has wrapped.
Unbeknownst to them, the relentless paparazzi photographer Rafael Cacciatore, aka the Hunter, notices a change in Jaxon and is determined to be the first to break the story of who has captured Jaxon Moncrieff’s heart. In the meantime, Liam and Jaxon have enough on their plate working out the not-so-little issue of how and when Jaxon will come out to his family. The paparazzi aren’t even on their radar. The race to out Jaxon is on, and Liam and Jaxon don’t even know it.
Buy Link:
And just to convince you that the second book is as good as the first, here’s a snippet from a review of The Race Is On:
“Anyone that reads M/M will absolutely love this series, I’m certain of it. There is just that perfect balance of romance, mystery, intrigue and sweaty sex that all us fans of the genre crave!”
MM Good Book Reviews – The Race Is On – Review By Tam
August 9, 2013
Pitch: By Will Parkinson.
Before I start, I think I’m supposed to say I received an advance copy in exchange for this review. Okay, legal disclosure over.
Now a couple disclaimers – I don’t review a lot of books, mostly because there is an art to doing them, and especially in doing them well, so If I don’t do the book justice, my apologies to Will. I don’t ‘rate’ books with stars or smiles, or kisses or hearts. I just give my opinions. Last, I don’t read a lot of YA – it’s not usually my cuppa – so again, I might not ‘know’ all the trends.
Pitch had it’s initial appeal to me because I love baseball. But my love of baseball doesn’t mean I want to read a book chock full of games, analysis and situations. Will Parkinson does a great job of delving into the sports/jock culture, yet keeping it on the fringe. Jackson Kern is a baseball player, and a good one. He’s also the hot jock. But we don’t get bogged down in baseball games, and situations and innings. We see the game, see the player and we move on. Nicely done. It gives the character some depth, but doesn’t bore the reader.
So without all the baseball ‘stuff’ what’s an author to do? How about let the reader ‘meet’ the characters and see their lives. And that is what Will does. We see the ‘boys’ in all their elements. This isn’t a one dimension, sports only, jock loves nerd story.
The book isn’t perfect, and there are some rough patches that I’ll touch on, but it succeeds on many levels. While there is instant attraction, this to me feels ‘right’. How many of us have seen someone, and been smitten. Then the more we watch and follow, the more our attraction grows. That’s how it felt with Taylor. The author avoids the trap of insta love following the insta attaction. The attraction gets time to simmer and grow into more than just – OMG he’s so hot.
We also get an example of a ‘normal’ gay teen. He’s not gay bashed, or casted out, or ostracized or shunned. He’s gay, it’s out there, he’s not over the top gay and bullied without mercy. It’s a chance to see a well adjusted, well loved, teen who happens to be gay. I think this is going to be the model for future MCs so it was nice that that author gave us that with Taylor. But at the same time, this was no Shangra-lai. Taylor has his issues with being outted that are not glossed over or made light of. In short it’s an attempt to paint a realistic picture of a gay teen whose major angst isn’t surviving the gay bashers, but in dealing with a normal teen issue – love or unrequited love. Kudos for that.
Last there is a nice element of friends. Best friends. Friends you keep no matter how much distance life puts between you. Here again, there was an attempt to make it real. Benny and Taylor were BFFs but like all friends it wasn’t always perfect.
Where the book felt rough was with some of the writing. There was a lot of telling, where I’d have preferred more showing. There was a bit too much explaining. Everything didn’t need to be spelled out and tied up. [A sin I committed all too often, so this is the pot calling the kettle black] And some of the resolutions to issues seemed too quick. A bit more tension would have added to the story.
But over all, the story had all the elements of a good read, likable leads, good friends, interesting situations and of course a HEA that didn’t come easy.
Pitch; By Will Parkinson.
Before I start, I think I’m supposed to say I received an advance copy in exchange for this review. Okay, legal disclosure over.
Now a couple disclaimers – I don’t review a lot of books, mostly because there is an art to doing them, and especially in doing them well, so If I don’t do the book justice, my apologies to Will. I don’t ‘rate’ books with stars or smiles, or kisses or hearts. I just give my opinions. Last, I don’t read a lot of YA – it’s not usually my cuppa – so again, I might not ‘know’ all the trends.
Pitch had it’s initial appeal to me because I love baseball. But my love of baseball doesn’t mean I want to read a book chock full of games, analysis and situations. Will Parkinson does a great job of delving into the sports/jock culture, yet keeping it on the fringe. Jackson Kern is a baseball player, and a good one. He’s also the hot jock. But we don’t get bogged down in baseball games, and situations and innings. We see the game, see the player and we move on. Nicely done. It gives the character some depth, but doesn’t bore the reader.
So without all the baseball ‘stuff’ what’s an author to do? How about let the reader ‘meet’ the characters and see their lives. And that is what Will does. We see the ‘boys’ in all their elements. This isn’t a one dimension, sports only, jock loves nerd story.
The book isn’t perfect, and there are some rough patches that I’ll touch on, but it succeeds on many levels. While there is instant attraction, this to me feels ‘right’. How many of us have seen someone, and been smitten. Then the more we watch and follow, the more our attraction grows. That’s how it felt with Taylor. The author avoids the trap of insta love following the insta attaction. The attraction gets time to simmer and grow into more than just – OMG he’s so hot.
We also get an example of a ‘normal’ gay teen. He’s not gay bashed, or cast out, or ostracized or shunned. He’s gay, it’s there, he’s not over the top gay and bullied without mercy. It’s a chance to see a well adjusted, well loved, teen who happens to be gay. I think this is the model for future MCs so it was nice that that author gave us that with Taylor. But at the same time, this was no Shangra-lai. Taylor has his issue with being outted that are not glossed over or made light of. In short it’s an attempt to paint a realistic picture of a gay teen whose major angst isn’t surviving the gay bashers, but in dealing with a normal teen issue – love or unrequited love. Kudos for that.
Last there is a nice element of friends. Best friends. Friends you keep no matter how much distance life puts between you. Here again, there was an attempt to make it real. Benny and Taylor were BFFs but like all friends it wasn’t always perfect.
Where the book felt rough was some of the writing. There was a lot of telling, where I’d have preferred more showing. There was a bit too much explaining. Everything didn’t need to be spelled out and tied up. [A sin I committed all too often, so this is the pot calling the kettle black] And some of the resolutions to issues seemed too quick. A bit more tension would have added to the story.
But over all, the story had all the elements of a good read, likable leads, good friends, interesting situations and of course a HEA that didn’t come easy.
August 8, 2013
PITCH: By Will Parkinson – Book Blog Tour
Today I have the privilege of being allowed to host part of Will Parkinson’s PITCH blog tour. Will has brought a few things to share in addition to his giveaway. First there is a prequel of sorts. Will shares a short story that introduces us to one of the main characters, Jackson Kern. The story takes place before the event in PITCH.
Next you’ll get to read an interview with Jackson. This gives us a bit more insight into the person who captives Taylor Andrew’s every waking - and some sleeping – moment.
Then there is an excerpt from the book. This is a nice introduction to the book itself.
Oh yes, there is a giveaway. Read on to the end and you’ll find a link. It’s easy to enter, so don’t forget to do that after you’ve read all that WIll has sent along.
Finally, I wrote a review for the book. you can find it on my site under reviews or you can click the link:
Review of Pitch: By Will Parkinson
Before PITCH:
Jackson Kern wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked to the runner on first base. If Nick hadn’t bobbled an easy out, the inning would be over already. Jackson gave a mental shrug. It didn’t matter, it was just gym class and not like anything important. He gave Luke a quick glance before pulling his arm to his chest, cocking back and hurling the dusty white orb toward the plate. Vic swung hard, trying to drive the ball over the fence. Instead he whiffed, striking out and ruining the skin teams chance to get caught up.
“Kern! You’re the man. Where the hell did you learn to throw like that?”
Jackson ducked his head. He wasn’t used to being in the public eye and considering some of his past experiences and the troubles that they brought him, he found it to be much easier to keep out of the limelight.
He gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Dunno. Just like the game, I guess.”
“You should see about joining the team next year,” someone called out.
Jackson’s shoulders slumped. He longed to be a part of something, to erase his past and build a future. Baseball might be just the thing to give it to him. It wouldn’t be this year. They were only going to be here for a few more months before his dad’s job pulled them to yet another town. He hated they were moving. He loved Chicago. After the activity in the Windy City, Milwaukee would pale by comparison. Would they even have a team at the school he’d be going to?
“Let’s head inside,” the teacher shouted. “And don’t forget to shower. I don’t wanna be smelling you when you’re done.”
Jackson trudged across the diamond, intent on the lockers. A few more days and this school would be history. That would make—what? Eleven schools in the last two years? His dad had promised Milwaukee would be their last transfer until after graduation. Maybe baseball was something he could build on. His teachers had often told him he was something special when he pitched. He smiled to himself as an idea came to mind.
“Yes,” he thought, “Milwaukee is going to be very different.”
Meet Jackson Kern:
Jackson Kern had just stepped out of the locker room after tryouts when he was besieged by a perky young redhead.
“Hi,” she squeaked. “I’m Cate Ashwood. I’m on the school’s newspaper. I wanted to interview you.”
Jackson’s brows knitted, confusion etched on his face.
“I saw you play. You were amazing. Could I ask you a few questions?”
Jackson nodded. He’d never encountered anyone this…bubbly before.
“Okay, great. Thanks! Where were you born?”
A grin played over Jackson’s face. “In a hospital.”
Cate sighed heavily and rolled her eyes.
“Sorry,” Jackson replied, the grin on his face indicating otherwise. “I was born in Phoenix, Arizona.”
“What’s it like being the new guy in school?” Cate wondered.
Now it was Jackson’s turn to sigh. “I’m used to it,” he said quietly. “We travel a lot because of my dad’s job, so I’m the new guy quite often.”
“What do you want to accomplish while you’re here?”
Jackson perked up. “I want to play baseball. I want to help take the team to State. I’m grateful I got here when I did. I’d also like to be a part of something bigger than just me. I haven’t decided what just yet, but I have a plan in mind. If it all works out, everyone will know who I am.”
Cate opened her mouth to ask another question when a voice called out. “Jackson. You were amazing!”
Becca Monroe flew through the gym and wrapped her arms around Jackson, giving him a solid kiss on the cheek. “We should celebrate. Maybe go to have some pizza or something. What do you think?”
Jackson gave a small smile. “Becca, do you know Cate?”
Becca turned and eyed Cate. “No.” She glared at Cate. “ I’m sure I don’t. Should we go?”
She put her arm through Jackson’s and started toward the door.
“Thanks for your time, Jackson. Best of luck this season. I hope I get the chance to interview you when you make it to State.”
Jackson turned and gave Cate a goodbye wave before his attention shifted back to Becca.
“I can’t believe how well that went. I’m not sure what to do next.”
“Don’t worry,” she purred. “I have plans for you.”
* * *
Andrew was kind enough to allow me on his blog. I’m grateful for the opportunity. :)
Blurb
The day Jackson Kern walks into Taylor Andrews’s classroom is a momentous day in Taylor’s life. He’s had crushes before, sure, but as time goes on, this is starting to look a whole lot more serious. Still, Jackson doesn’t return Taylor’s feelings.
Taylor has his own admirers, though. Kevin Richards is used to getting what he wants, and what he wants right now is Taylor, so when Taylor rejects him, Kevin retaliates. At first Taylor’s entourage rallies around him, but then Kevin takes his deception one step further and Taylor sees his support dwindle, teaching him the valuable lesson about who he can truly consider a friend.
Excerpt
PG only – YA so it doesn’t get explicit
TAYLOR ANDREWS glanced toward the door and noticed a young man, shoulders hunched, waiting outside the classroom. As he continued to stare, the newcomer took a deep breath, threw back his shoulders, and lifted his head before he stepped into Mrs. Wagner’s homeroom. He walked with purpose toward the front of the classroom and handed the teacher a sheet of paper without saying a word.
After a brief moment of studying the paper, Mrs. Wagner smiled at the young man before turning to the students filling the desks of her classroom. “Class, this is Jackson Kern. It’s his first day here, and I need a volunteer to help him get acclimated.”
Taylor looked at the new guy and felt his face heat. He grabbed his ever-present sketchpad from his backpack, his desire to capture this stranger’s likeness overwhelming. The guy was… well, gorgeous. Taylor’s hands flew over the paper as he took in Jackson Kern’s beautiful well-sculpted face, rich chocolate-brown eyes, and dark, thick hair. He had a toned body, maybe a swimmer? God, what he wouldn’t give to….
“I’ll show him around, Mrs. Wagner,” Becca Monroe offered brightly, interrupting Taylor’s wayward thoughts.
“Thank you, Becca,” Mrs. Wagner said with a smile before turning to the newest addition to the class. “Jackson, please take a seat. Becca will walk with you and show you the building and where your classes will be. If you have any questions, just ask her.”
“Yes, ma’am, thank you,” the new kid replied. Taylor noted how polite Jackson was, unlike most of the guys in his tenth-grade class.Jackson parked his tall, lanky body in the seat next to Becca and started talking. Taylor watched as Becca’s eyes roamed over Jackson’s frame, and she licked her lips. He could tell she was already on the prowl. She was a pretty enough girl, if you liked them. Long reddish-brown hair, big green eyes, and a big… ego.
She was hot and she knew it. She was also the kind of girl who was only out for one thing. Herself. She was junior varsity head cheerleader, something his best friend, Benny Peters, always had a lot of fun commenting on. She’d dated the captains of most of the sports teams, always switching to a new guy at the beginning of the season.
“Damn lucky girl,” Taylor muttered. If he hadn’t been enjoying the sight of the new boy, he’d have volunteered for guide duty. Oh, the things he wanted to show him… not that he had any experience; he’d never even kissed another boy. He worked hard at trying not to look at other guys. The thought of being outed in high school scared him, so much so that he’d sometimes have panic attacks when he thought about it—clammy skin, problems breathing, feeling faint. He hated those, really hated not being in control. It always made him feel weak and needy.
The bell rang, startling Taylor out of his reverie, and the students moved like cattle, heading off to their next class. Taylor scowled when he saw Becca take the new guy by the arm and lead him from the classroom. As they passed he heard Jackson ask, “Do you know who I talk to about the baseball team?”
“What position do you play, Jackson?” Becca asked excitedly, ignoring Jackson’s question.
“I’m a pitcher.”
Taylor could hear the excitement in Becca’s voice, and he knew the reason. Baseball tryouts would be in the next week or two, and she needed a new ball-playing boyfriend since her ex, Cody Daniels, graduated. It was as if she’d won the freaking lottery.
Jackson was hot and he played sports. For Becca that was definitely the best of both worlds.Taylor chuckled. Oh, how he’d love to be that boy’s catcher.
But damn, Becca was probably going to be all over that anyway.
Not that he’d ever have a shot with someone like Jackson.
According to Benny, he wasn’t bad-looking. Benny often said he was jealous of Taylor’s curly blond hair, which he himself despised.
Besides, Taylor thought, Benny’s straight. What does he know?
Jackson was probably three inches taller than Taylor’s five foot eight, but it wasn’t his height that bothered him as much as the extra weight. He was no one special, and someone like Jackson Kern would never give him the time of day. That’s just how things went.
Over the next week, Taylor would see Jackson throughout the school. Other than homeroom they didn’t have any classes together, but he noticed him in the hallway or heading to the gym. Taylor’s heart fluttered every time he caught a glimpse of Jackson. He loved the way his lip curled when he was amused or the way he arched an eyebrow when he seemed to be curious about something. The thing that struck him most, though, was the fact that Jackson was so poised and confident when he was with a group. People hung on his every word. It almost seemed like he was holding court. People just tended to gravitate to Jackson. His rich baritone voice had a soothing, hypnotic effect on Taylor from a distance. He couldn’t help but wonder what it did to the people Jackson was actually talking with. He watched Jackson in the school’s weight room one afternoon and stood transfixed as the muscles in Jackson’s chest and arms strained with every repetition. Taylor began to sweat and unconsciously licked his lips as he watched Jackson working his leg muscles. His pulse raced when Jackson pulled off his shirt, the dusting of dark hair across the expanse of his chest matted from sweat. Taylor swore he could smell Jackson’s scent, musky but sweet. He wanted to get closer but knew it would seem weird, so he reluctantly tore himself away and went back to class.
Taylor was envious of Jackson’s build. He studied his own body in the mirror and sighed. He was plump. That was the only way to describe it. There was no muscle definition. He tried to maintain his weight but couldn’t resist pizza. He’d tried to work out with Benny, who seemed obsessed with his body, but it just wasn’tfor him. Taylor sighed heavily. He was so far out of Jackson Kern’s league, he’d never have a shot with someone like him, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the view.TAYLOR glanced over at Benny, comfortably stretched out on the sofa, thumbing through Taylor’s latest sketches. At six foot one and weighing in at nearly 215 pounds, Benny had always been one of Taylor’s favorite sketch subjects. His eyes were the coolest brown color with small flecks of gold in them. His sandy hair was always cut short, but not like a buzz cut, which Taylor had to admit was his favorite kind of haircut.
Benny had always stood up for Taylor and it was that fact which made Benny the only one Taylor had come out to. No matter what else happened between the two, Taylor was sure Benny would always be there for him.
“Benny, what would you say if I told you I was crushing?”
Taylor asked, sitting up on his bed and tossing a rolled-up pair of socks into the laundry basket.
Benny met Taylor’s eyes as he laid the sketches across his chest. “I’d say who this time? Already over… what was his name?
Mason? Dixon? Something southern.”
“His name was Caleb,” Taylor groaned, rolling his eyes. “And he was a jerk. Remember how he humiliated and made Toby cry when he came into the locker room and found Caleb throwing his clothes into the shower?”
“Yeah, I remember. I was the one who got him something to wear for the rest of the day. I can’t stand bullies,” Benny snarled.
“So who has your undies in a bunch this time?
“I’m talking about the new guy, Jackson Kern. There’s just something about him. He’s… I dunno, different. He’s not loud or annoying. He seems really laid-back. And he’s totally hot. He just seems… perfect.” Taylor sighed wistfully. “I can’t imagine him ever doing a mean thing to anyone.”Benny tried to suppress a snort. “And how long is this one going to last? A month? Two tops. You go through crushes faster than I go through underwear.”
“When you change them twice a year that’s not too difficult,”
Taylor snickered.
Taylor was surprised when Benny hit him with a pillow, and the fight was on. He grabbed the other pillow and swung at Benny, who dodged and laughed. For such a big guy, Benny was surprisingly agile. They smacked each other around, laughing all the while, until Taylor cried uncle.
After they were exhausted, Benny turned to him and said with a sympathetic smile, “Taylor, talk to the guy. Pretty much the worst that could happen is he’s not interested.”
Taylor stared glumly up at the ceiling, his thoughts turning once more to Jackson. “No, the worst that could happen is he’s a homophobic asshat who wants to kick the crap out of me.”
“Yeah,” Benny observed thoughtfully, “but at least he’d touch you. That’s more than you’ve ever gotten before.” He gave Taylor a gleeful grin, as if waiting for the comment to sink in fully.
And as soon as it did, Taylor lunged at Benny, and the fight was back on. Once Benny succeeded in pinning Taylor, his expression turned serious as he said, “Look, just be cool. Don’t obsess. If you want to impress him, show him the pictures you drew of him. You’re really good at doing these.”
Taylor’s cheeks heated. He could never show his work to Jackson. He didn’t think they were good enough to share with anyone other than Benny. He’d been puttering around with drawing for years. He had several sketchpads full of various things that caught his eye. He loved to do drawings of nature scenes, people, and animals. He’d done several of Trip, his Siberian husky, before the poor dog died that still brought tears when Taylor looked at them. It was just a hobby, though. His father always told him he needed a real career and constantly reminded him that art wouldn’t amount to anything in the real world. He shook his head sadly. No, there was no way Jackson would ever see his work.STANDING by the bleachers near the dugout, Taylor couldn’t help but wonder why he was there. Baseball tryouts held no interest for him. In fact, he’d always found the game kind of stupid, yet here he was. His gaze landed on Jackson Kern. Yeah, that was something he really wanted, to see Jackson play the game.
Jackson took the center thingy… the mound or whatever it’s called. Taylor had spent a good deal of time reading about baseball.
He figured he should know something about it, just in case Jackson ever spoke to him. Still, he was having a hard time wrapping his head around all the rules and terms. Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try, though. He pulled out his sketchbook and did a few rough outlines, wanting to fill them out later. Jackson threw a few pitches to the catcher, loosening up. Mitch Daniels, Cody’s younger brother, stepped up and tapped his bat on the ground. Jackson brought his arms up near his chest, struck a pose, and shook his head slightly.
After a moment he leaned back and threw the ball. It went straight across the plate at blinding speed. Mitch swung at it and missed completely. When Jackson finished the inning, allowing no hits, he marched back to the dugout; the coach’s jaw fell open as he rushed out to meet Jackson.
“Kid, what’s your name?”
“Jackson, sir. My friends call me Jax.”
“Well, Jax, if you can throw like that with consistency, you’re gonna be our ace. I can tell,” the coach said, practically drooling over the young prospect.
Taylor thought he saw Jackson… Jax blush. By the end of the tryouts, not one person had hit anything Jackson threw. When the coach told him he had a spot, Jackson smiled so big and wide, Taylor was sure his heart would stop. Then Becca came running over and threw her arms around the team’s new pitcher. Taylor turned in disgust and started shuffling away, pausing to take a last look at Jackson. He was all hot and sweaty, and it looked really, really good on him. Taylor knew that’s what he was going to be thinking about when he went to bed.TAYLOR found himself drawn to watch the practices. He kept trying to tell himself it was stupid, and he knew it was, but he really enjoyed watching Jackson. He’d been going to watch practice every day for two weeks when he saw Jackson turn in his direction. For just a second he thought, more like hoped, that Jackson was looking at him. His eyes locked on Jackson, and his mouth went dry, wishing that he’d come over to him, put his arms around him, whisper in his ear… but then the guy turned and walked over to the rest of the team, clearing the field for the next inning. Taylor’s heart sank, realizing it was all wishful thinking on his part.“COME on, Taylor, crack a book. I came over to study, not to watch you stare at the ceiling,” Benny huffed, pushing a pile of laundry off the chair and parking himself at the desk. “And would it kill you to clean up a little bit? This place is a sty, man.”
Taylor never even registered the reproach in Benny’s voice.
All he could think about was Jackson.
“Benny, I’m going nuts. I know it’s never gonna go anywhere, but I can’t stop going to see him,” Taylor groaned.
Benny stared at him, eyes wide. “Wow, never saw you this bad before. You’d always crush for a few weeks and then see some new hottie that made you forget the old one. Maybe you really do have it bad for this guy,” Benny muttered.
Swinging his legs over, Taylor sat on the edge of the bed, grinning with excitement. “You’ve got no idea. Yesterday morning I saw him with a smear of toothpaste in the corner of his mouth. I swear it was one of the hottest things I’d ever seen, and I just wanted to lick it off.”
Benny’s lips tightened into a grimace. “Toothpaste is hot?
God, you’re so weird, Taylor. I hope you won’t be upset if I don’t admit to knowing you when we’re in public.”Taylor smirked, remembering everything with vivid detail. “It was hot! If it wasn’t for the fact that Becca rubbed it off for him, which really pissed me off, by the way, I’d have stared at it all day.”
“So he and Becca are together?” Benny asked, putting the book down and finally turning to face Taylor.
“Yeah, I guess. She’s always hanging on him and hugging him. It’s totally disgusting,” Taylor sneered.
“Because it’s what you want to be doing?” Benny wondered aloud, keeping his voice low.
“Maybe.” Taylor sighed. “Either way, this just reinforces my dislike of public displays of affection.”
“So when are you gonna finally talk to him? How hard can it really be?” Benny asked patiently.
Taylor could see the look of pity on his friend’s face, but he snapped, “Well, you get a girl to notice you and then come back and give me some pointers, okay?”
Taylor knew it wasn’t fair. Benny was all about his schoolwork. His parents were always so strict about everything, and the schoolwork had to come first.
Benny quirked an eyebrow
and stared at Taylor
condescendingly. “I don’t need a girl to notice me, Tay. I’m not the one who needs validation. Maybe you should just join the monks.
I’m sure then you’ll get plenty of hot action,” Benny chuckled as he opened his math book. There was going to be a stupid quiz tomorrow, which, naturally, Benny was going to ace. He always aced them. Benny’s grades were important to him. As it stood Benny had a near-perfect GPA and would likely be valedictorian as a senior.
He and Benny had been the best of friends since kindergarten.
Taylor knew Benny would do almost anything for him, even if it included telling him things about himself he really didn’t want to hear, especially when it was the truth. Taylor knew he was a chicken, but he also knew unrequited love would be better than being humiliated in front of or by Jackson.
Will’s Bio:
WILL PARKINSON believes that no matter what obstacles are thrown in the path of young love, it will always find a way to win in the end. He wants his characters to have their happily ever after, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to come easily.
None of this would have happened if he had followed the advice he was given many years ago. “What are you wasting your time on that for? It’s never going to amount to anything.” He believed it for the longest time, abandoning characters he’d created in his childhood.
He picked up his very first m/m story by a writer named Eden Winters, who was an absolute joy when they corresponded. She asked him if he wrote and he told her the story. Eden explained to Will that the voices in his head would never go away and how he needed to let them out. With that thought in mind, Will put e-pen to e-paper once more. It was truly a liberating experience and one he has no intention of giving up again.
Buy Links:
Prize Information:
Will is giving away – Grand prize: Signed copy of Pitch and a $25 gift card to the winner’s choice of online book reseller. Enter here:
PITCH Tour Schedule
8/5/2013
Magnolias and Men
True Colorz
Hearts on Fire
8/6/2013
Cate Ashwood’s Blog
Guilty Pleasures
8/7/2013
My Fiction Nook
Madison Parker
8/8/2013
Cody Kennedy, author
The Risque Redhead Reads
8/9/2013
Book Reviews & More by Kathy
The Land of Make Believe
8/12/2013
Author Susan Mac Nicol
N.R. Walker
8/13/2013
Iyana Jenna
Dawn’s Reading Nook
8/14/2013
Wild Wordy Women
Mary Calmes Books
A Bear On Books
8/15/13
House Millar
Joyfully Jay
8/16/2013
Elisa – My Reviews & Ramblings
Mrs. Condit & Friends Read Books
