Mia Kerick's Blog

I’m SOOOO Late! But…Blackbird, Book 3 in IF I FELL Series, released in November!! (Shame on Mama Mia)

Hi everybody!

Well, I’m late with this post. But I have reasons (AKA excellent excuses). Health issues arose and I pushed everything else aside. Today, when I sent Book 3 in the series, Come Together, to the formatter, I knew it was time to go back and get this done!!!

Here’s a little bit of background info on the series:

In Book 1, Hide Your Love Away, Timmy Hale—the sleek and sarcastic Edgewater University junior—steals the heart of buff dormitory manager Colton Ledger (Cole). A man old enough to be his father…whose son also attends the university. Between Cole’s uncooperative son and Timmy’s troubled stalker, their relationship gets off to a rocky start. But yes, true love rules, and the men win each other’s hearts. For a while.

Blackbird, Book 2 in the series, starts out blissfully. But what kind of a romance novel starts out with bliss and stays blissful for hundreds of pages? Not the kind of romance novel I write! In Blackbird, Cole, swayed by his jealous son’s (bad) advise, pressures Timmy to accept an internship in NYC. Timmy obediently leaves for the city—after all, he doesn’t want to disappoint the man he loves. And then, everything goes to hell in a handbasket.

There’s heavy drinking, unending silences, an unwanted kiss, a forced modeling job…and a hostile breakup. Yeah, that defines hell in a handbasket, I’d say.

These stories are long novellas, so it would be easy to sit down and read both books in a day. The conclusion to the IF I FELL Series, Come Together, will release on January 24th. In Book 3, the conflict—and danger to Timmy and Cole’s relationship—comes from outside sources.

Here’s Blackbird’s blurb:

Sequel to Hide Your Love Away

Timmy and Cole’s angsty love story continues…

Last year, in Timmy Hale’s junior year at Edgewater University, he set his romantic sights on Colton “Cole” Ledger—a burly and sometimes over-protective dormitory maintenance man. Cole soon had it bad for sleek and snarky Timmy too, and—despite a bumpy road (a frenzied stalker and an uncooperative son)—before year’s end they’d found love. Now, in Timmy’s senior year, the couple has left the dormitory behind. Cole is back to running his own custom construction company, and they’ve turned an antique Victorian home into a love nest. For a while, life is good.

But insta-love comes at a cost, and for Timmy and Cole it’s steep. Cole’s doubts haunt him: he’s almost certain he’s too old for Timmy, and that he’s pushing him into a life he’ll eventually resent, keeping him from spreading his newfound wings and taking flight toward his best future. Acting on his fears, Cole pressures Timmy to accept an internship in Manhattan—far from the home they’ve built together. He means well, but Timmy feels like a baby bird kicked out of the nest too soon.

Tensions rise until fear, resentment, and desire draw Timmy and Cole into explosive conflict. When the dust settles, will Timmy wing away like a young blackbird, or return to nest with Cole in their happy garden home?

For maximum enjoyment, Blackbird is best read after Hide Your Love Away.

Stay tuned for Book 3 in the IF I FELL Series, Come Together, coming January 24, 2022.

I hired FuzzDiego from Fiverr to create some art of my two MC’s Timmy and Cole. Hot, huh?

GOOD NEWS: As soon as my preorder for Come Together goes live, Blackbird will be (like Hide Your Love Away Book 1) priced at 99 cents! WOOT!

Want to check out some awesome reviews of Blackbird? WARNING: they will tempt you to pick up a copy. And a HUGE THANK YOU to reviewers- you are authors’ lifeblood.

I hope you check out my series, IF I FELL.

By the way, Book 1, Hide Your Love Away was a Runner Up in the Rainbow Awards for Gay Contemporary Romance!!

Well, folks, that’s all for now! Hope you check out Blackbird (and of course, before that, Hide Your Love Away) for some angsty MM Romance!

Mia

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Published on December 30, 2021 08:29

Whatever He Needs rereleases TODAY! AUGUST 24th

I’m so excited because my #OppositesAttract #HurtComfort contemporary MM romance novel rereleases TODAY!

So here’s a little story about my MC Liam:

My first beta reader simply detested Liam, which is not a great omen for a successful romance novel. And so, in my rewrites (there have been many) I allowed Liam’s thoughts to flow more freely—his regrets and hopes, desires and goals—so the reader can better understand his motivations.

Because, um, Liam is not exactly a perfect romantic hero for a large portion of the book.

What did Liam do to make him so, you know, not perfect?

Well, you asked…

*he cares WAY TOO MUCH about what others think of him- particularly his perfect father

*he hides his sexuality, even when he falls hard for Dimmy

*he hides Dimmy because of how he looks and talks and where he works

*he judges people and jobs and places because…well, Liam’s something of a snob

Letting you know WHY Liam does what he does will (hopefully) humanize him.

Liam shares a personality trait (curse) with me: he’s a truly compelled people-pleaser. But it’s even bigger than that: As a child of wealthy, notable parents, he feels unworthy of the McAllister name. And although he has had everything he could possibly want in a material sense, he was a neglected child. Liam was raised by teachers and coaches and nannies and drivers because his parents were busy striving to build their business and give to the community.

*ss-kisser, brownie, brown-nose…there are so many names for those who live to please

And so, Liam’s priorities in life are skewed. As he works to fit seamlessly into his family, he plays the role of the perfect (middle) child. Liam never makes waves; he always strives to bring peace and smiles and pride to his parents. This “perfect person” role comes crashing down around him when he falls in love with Dimmy.

Too bad it takes Liam a little bit too much time to sort things out. Time that is dangerous for Dimmy’s physical wellbeing and potentially disastrous for Liam’s heart.

Dimmy is the single motivation necessary for Liam to set his priorities and do things the right way. Will he do it before it’s too late?

Let’s talk about Dimmy…

He is pretty much the opposite of Liam.

Dimmy’s family isn’t wealthy, educated, or particularly successful but he also lives to please his father. Still, one thing Dimmy does for himself is create a unique personal style.

Yeah, Dimmy decorates himself…

*with plenty of bird tattoos

“Birds have got it good. They can fly away when it all gets to be too much.”

*with lip and septum piercings

His father yells at him, “First the piercings, and then all the tattoos, and now this!”

*by dying his hair purple

“Right now, it’s the exact color of a Purple Martin.”

Let’s check out the blurb:

When both lovers have daddy issues, it gets complicated.

Heir to the McAllister Construction fortune, Liam is focused on maintaining the myth that he is exactly the son his father wants. When he falls for Dimmy, a heavily inked go-go dancer, he fears revealing the romance, certain it won’t go over well with his upper-crust family—especially his father, who seems obsessed with building a family legacy.

Dimmy’s father, Gregory, is bent on making Dimmy earn his keep by any means, no matter how unsavory. He puts his barely legal son to work dancing provocatively at the seedy bar he runs and finds Dimmy work on the side providing masseuse services—and more—to club clientele. Gregory has Dimmy twisted into believing he can do no better, and Dimmy does it all in hopes of a pat on the back from dad.

Though Liam is but a few years older, Dimmy sees him as a man who might take care of him as his callous father never has, and reluctantly lets his guard down. But Liam, though he’s falling hard and fast for Dimmy, still hides his blossoming relationship from his family. A crisis ensues when a clash between the two fathers’ business interests puts Dimmy at serious risk.

When the right side of the tracks meets the oh-so-very wrong side, will Liam set his priorities straight in time to keep Dimmy from harm, or will fear shatter their lives?

Trigger warning: Whatever He Needs includes instances of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and kidnapping.

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Published on August 24, 2021 06:00

HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY releases!! YAY!!

I’m so excited to say that Book 1 in The IF I FELL Series has released!

Here’s the blurb:

Too young.

Too damaged.

Too close to Cole’s enormous secret for comfort.

Rough and tumble Edgewater University maintenance man Colton Ledger should keep his distance from the sleek and snarky college junior who has caught his attention. After all, Timmy is half his age, not to mention that Cole has a secret life he can’t afford to reveal. So why is he compelled to undermine the young man’s cocky game and lure him into his private life?

As the product of an unwanted late-life pregnancy, Timmy Hale has been emotionally shattered by a loveless upbringing. After years of desperate attempts to garner attention from his apathetic parents fail, young adult Timmy changes course. He hides his feelings of vulnerability behind meaningless sex, endless partying, and a big, bad attitude. Until Cole comes along…

When trouble finds Timmy in the form of a dangerous and relentless stalker, Cole must decide if Timmy is worth the risk of coming clean about the confidence he’s obliged to keep, as Timmy weighs the potential havoc falling in love could wreak on his heart.

HIDING

The epigraph in the front matter of my new release Hide Your Love Away:

You can run but you can’t hide. ~Emily Giffin

(Timmy tries to run, but Cole stays close on his heels.)

My dedication:

To those who hide behind their hair. (There are lots of us.)

And on the book’s cover, you will see a classic image of Timmy in hiding. He uses his long bangs to hide his eyes.

The book’s title comes from a song by the Beatles “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.” (My fave Beatles tune!!)

The lyrics made me think of Timmy…

Everywhere people stare
Each and every day
I can see them laugh at me
And I hear them say

Hey, you’ve got to hide your love away
Hey, you’ve got to hide your love away

***

HIDING

When Cole tells Timmy he wants to wait for intimacy, they lie in bed (awkwardly) talking about Beatles songs.

Here’s an excerpt from the story where they do just that:

For a few long seconds, Timmy hesitates, and then he joins me on the bed. “My all-time favorite Beatles tune is ‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’.” Although he’s lying down, he’s not relaxed. His shoulders are stiff, and his legs hang over the edge of the bed like he’s ready to bolt. He grabs his phone. “I’ll put it on.”

I listen for a minute and then turn toward him. “What about this song speaks to you?”

“It’s gritty, I guess. The lyrics, they give the world’s best advice.” He glances at me and then quickly shifts his gaze to the ceiling.

“Which is?”

“Don’t let anybody see you sweat.”

“As in, you’ve got to hide your feelings in public?”

“Yeah, and in private too. And I like the way Lennon sings it…pissed-off and bitter.”

“You can relate?”

Timmy shrugs.

***

Timmy finds it far safer to hide his feelings than to let them show. Believe me, there are reasons for his inability to show the world who he is and how he feels, starting with years of childhood neglect. But Cole needs to see the guy behind the mask. He refuses to let Timmy hide.

This is my first Age Gap MM romance. (Not my first Hurt/Comfort by a longshot LOL) It was interesting to write because the twenty-year age difference between the two MCs and their feelings about it introduced new dynamics to romantic chemistry I’ve never before explored in writing.

Hide Your Love Away is Book 1 in the IF I FELL Series, and all three short novels will deal with the romantic bond between Timmy Hale and Cole Ledger.

Meet Timmy:

*stunning, sleek college junior

*hides his vulnerability behind a snarky attitude and long side bangs

*emotionally damaged from a loveless upbringing

Meet Cole:

*burly dormitory manager old enough to be Timmy’s father

*sees Timmy’s fragility and refuses to let him hide

*hiding his own huge secret

#AgeGap #HurtComfort #CollegeRomance #OppositesAttract #BigSecret

Pick up a copy of HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY

It’s on Kindle Unlimited or only $1.99

Thanks so much for checking out my post and I hope you’ll check out Hide Your Love Away, Book 1 in IF I FELL.

Mia

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Published on July 29, 2021 14:42

HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY Cover Reveal

July 1st was the cover reveal of my #AgeGap #HurtComfort #CollegeRomance #Big Secret MM Romance HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY that releases July 26th. Mark your calendars!!!

It is Book 1 in the IF I FELL Series; all three books illustrate the angsty love story of Timmy Hale, college student, and Colton Ledger, dormitory maintenance man.

Here’s the BLURB:

Too young.

Too damaged.

Too close to Cole’s enormous secret for comfort.

Rough and tumble Edgewater University maintenance man Colton Ledger should keep his distance from the sleek and snarky college junior who has caught his attention. After all, Timmy is half his age, not to mention that Cole has a secret life he can’t afford to reveal. So why is he compelled to undermine the young man’s cocky game and lure him into his private life?

As the product of an unwanted late-life pregnancy, Timmy Hale has been emotionally shattered by a loveless upbringing. After years of desperate attempts to garner attention from his apathetic parents fail, young adult Timmy changes course. He hides his feelings of vulnerability behind meaningless sex, endless partying, and a big, bad attitude. Until Cole comes along…

When trouble finds Timmy in the form of a dangerous and relentless stalker, Cole must decide if Timmy is worth the risk of coming clean about the confidence he’s obliged to keep, as Timmy weighs the potential havoc falling in love could wreak on his heart.

Hide Your Love Away is Book One in the IF I FELL Series.

Age Gap, Hurt/Comfort, Keeping Secrets, Opposites Attract Adult Contemporary MM Romance.

Preorder your copy today.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0988WJRSZ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=78O9FZM9FAET&dchild=1&keywords=hide+your+love+away&qid=1625323449&s=books&sprefix=hide+your+love+away%2Caps%2C154&sr=1-2

Hide Your Love Away is a short novel of 43,000 words and will be on Kindle Unlimited or $1.99.

(Book 2, Blackbird, will release late this fall and Book 3, Come Together, will release in 2022.)

Here’s a short excerpt:

“I kick my clothes from my ankles and lift Timmy to the bed. “Just lie back and let me take care of you.”

“You, you just said…,” He curls up on his side and lets go another one of those angsty yelps.

I pull off his sneakers and joggers and then the snug boxer briefs beneath. I help him to sit up so I can take off his vest and T-shirt. “Why are you—what’s wrong, Timmy?”

Again, he shuts his eyes, this time scrunching them tightly.

“Look at me. You need to look at me when you answer,” I insist.

“He nods once and opens his eyes, though he must grit his teeth to do it. “Nobody loves me.”

“I love you.”

He shakes his head. “But you can’t.”

I know why he believes he isn’t worthy of love. My job is to prove it’s not true. “Yes, I can. Just try and stop me.”

I push him onto his back on the bed, climb on top of him, and fix my lips to his. He opens his mouth wide and frenzied tongue action starts.

“No Timmy, you don’t need to do that. Let me kiss you.”

When his body goes limp, I’m afraid I’ve hurt his pride.

I’m gentle when I kiss him, and his lips move carefully against mine. Soon I shift my attention to the vulnerable underside of his jaw and then the sleek column of his neck. I’m not sure he’s aware that he lifts his chin to receive more of my kisses. I lavish hordes of affection on him—all the love and care and passion I’ve held inside for twenty lonely years. And I don’t even stop to wonder how I can possibly love Timmy after such short time together.

I don’t need to ask this question.

It’s simple fact that I feel everything for this young man. It clicks with us. I know this as I know that the sky is blue, and the sun burns hot, and Timmy’s eyes are as deep and endless as the ocean. Tomorrow I’m going to talk to Robbie so I can bring Timmy fully into my life.

I hope you pick up a copy of Hide Your Love Away!

Mia

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Published on July 03, 2021 07:49

How it is now

From this point on, in my writing career, I’m going to do what I want to do.

*This may not sound like an earth-shattering decision because you’re already involved in the writing community just because you love books and are doing what YOU want to do.

What I’m saying is, I’m not going to write for a publisher, for ratings, to be PC.

I’m gonna write and participate in the MM Romance community (that I love) because I want to.

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*I’ll continue to write books—there are stories and characters inside me who want out. Who am I to stop them?

*I’ll hang out with my author’s group, Mia’s Lost Boys, because…it’s fun there.

*I LOVE AUTHOR PARTIES- I’ll keep on going because my friends are there, and I can share news of my books.

*I’ll won’t stop posting on Instagram because I love sharing memes that I make.

*On Facebook and Twitter, I’ll share my books and my colleagues’ books and other stuff about life when the time feels right.

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I’ve experienced a lot of pain lately over my favorite activity and passion—writing love stories. I don’t need to write them; I write stories because it makes me happy.

So I’m circling back around to that joyful place again. Readers and bloggers and colleagues and reviewers and friends, you are all so important to me: I hope you join me on my journey toward writing happiness.

STICK WITH ME…

Mia

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Published on May 18, 2021 19:41

WHY CHOOSE A Mia Kerick MM ROMANCE?

To help me promote my gay romance, a publisher once asked me this question:

What makes you different than all of the other Gay Romance writers out there?

Why should a reader choose Mia Kerick?

Surprisingly, the answer popped immediately into my head.

I create very good bad boys.

As in, men with rough-hewn sweetness.

Guys who seem rough and tough on the outside, but inside are oh-so-vulnerable.

My sweet bad boys… Life has been hard on them. Some are neglected, others are physically and emotionally abused. Some of these men are simply misunderstood, as much by themselves as by others. And thanks to an abundance of inner turmoil, they grow hard shells to protect their soft insides from the pain that life most surely and regularly delivers.

They put on good shows, as they fight to protect themselves from the pain the world throws at them. As loners, bullies, jokesters, smartasses, tough guys… but they, more truly, are LOST BOYS. They have no place—no person—to call their own.

Maybe it’s predictable that only love can save them. But isn’t this what romance is all about?

For my bad boys, the path to redemption is often tricky. Or maybe I should say that it’s loaded with challenges and pain (that make for compelling reads). The lost boys must come face to face with the devastating fear that has them hiding behind coarse, distant, and even cruel behavior. Only when they’ve looked at themselves—seen the fear and accepted the vulnerability—can they find safe homes in the arms of their lovers.

This self-discovery that leads to emotional openness is what I write. And it’s why I’m different than the rest.

My favorite tropes:

#oppositesattract

#hurt/comfort

#badboyromance

#tortured heroes

That’s a lot of ouch…but then the warm fuzzies INVADE.

Mia

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Published on May 06, 2021 10:11

WHY CHOOSE A Mia Kerick MM ROMANCE? Whatever He Needs releases!

I’m thrilled to be here today with the release of Whatever He Needs—angsty, hot, passion-filled Adult Gay Romance.

To help me promote my gay romance, a publisher once asked me this question:

What makes you different than all of the other Gay Romance writers out there?

Why should a reader choose Mia Kerick?

Surprisingly, the answer popped immediately into my head.

I create very good bad boys.

As in, men with rough-hewn sweetness.

Guys who seem rough and tough on the outside, but inside are oh-so-vulnerable.

My sweet bad boys… Life has been hard on them. Some are neglected, others are physically and emotionally abused. Some of these men are simply misunderstood, as much by themselves as by others. And thanks to an abundance of inner turmoil, they grow hard shells to protect their soft insides from the pain that life most surely and regularly delivers.

They put on good shows, as they fight to protect themselves from the pain the world throws at them. As loners, bullies, jokesters, smartasses, tough guys… but they, more truly, are LOST BOYS. They have no place—no person—to call their own.

LOST BOYS ARE MY SPECIALTY

Maybe it’s predictable that only love can save them. But isn’t this what romance is all about?

For my bad boys, the path to redemption is often tricky. Or maybe I should say that it’s loaded with challenges and pain (that make for compelling reads). The lost boys must come face to face with the devastating fear that has them hiding behind coarse, distant, and even cruel behavior. Only when they’ve looked at themselves—seen the fear and accepted the vulnerability—can they find safe homes in the arms of their lovers.

This self-discovery that leads to emotional openness is what I write. And it’s why I’m different than the rest.

In Whatever He Needs, the very obvious bad boy is Dimmy. He’s angry with life. He has a bad attitude. He curses and slings insults. He refuses to let anybody in. And he hides behind tattoos and piercings and a mop of purple hair.

But inside…well, inside, Dimmy is fragile. Needy. Liam can hurt him too easily. Sadly, he does.

But Liam has a whole series of his own problems that torture him. He also needs to look himself squarely in the eye and make some tough decisions. Liam is clean cut. Well educated. Polite to a T. But where he may seem like Dimmy’s white knight, Liam is a very bad boy in his own way.

ANGRY AT THE WORLD DIMMY

“imperfectly perfect” Liam

Want to meet these complicated men? Pick up Whatever He Needs and find out what happens.

#oppositesattract

#hurt/comfort

#badboyromance

#tortured heroes

The blurb of WHATEVER HE NEEDS:

CORE VALUES

Liam McAllister might be a preppy rich kid, but for one night all he cares about is finding the seediest bar in town and forgetting his complicated life for a few hours. When a captivating purple-haired go-go dancer catches his eye, his plans change.

Following in his larger-than-life father’s footsteps is ingrained in his DNA, but this dancer, who is nothing like what his parents expect of him, is a desire Liam can’t ignore.

For Dimmy Cirillo, being dissed is nothing new. After his mother’s death, he’s sought his cruel, narcissistic father’s approval, only to learn he’s nothing more than a commodity to the heartless man. When a sexy patron shows him a life he’s always dreamed of, he revels in the attention, even though he knows it’ll never last.

A swift kick of reality has Liam questioning his duty to his father, and puts his relationship with Dimmy in jeopardy. They must find a way to break free from their pasts if they’re ever going to have a shot of building a future together.

And now the Amazon purchase link:

That’s a lot of ouch…but then the warm fuzzies INVADE.

Mia

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Published on May 06, 2021 10:11

GO-GO boys: The experience

(if you are entering the comment contest, don’t forget to leave an email address so I can send you your prize)

Dimmy on the lit-up cube[image error]

Although go-go boys are an entertainment fixture in many gay (and other) social scenes around the world, I used the author’s creative license in my creation of a character’s role as a club dancer at All the Feels. He performs, scantily clad and in a highly titillating manner, but his role at his father’s bar differs from that of many other go-go dancers.

“I get paid to go out and drink and be the center of attention, rather than paying to go out and drink and trying to get people’s attention.” (Jeff Tetreault, West Hollywood)

In order to get a good grasp on go-go dancing, I researched the experiences of both male and female club dancers.I soon realized that there are many differences between their experiences. To start, with female go-go dancers there seems to be a greater focus on creative costuming—rhinestones and miniskirts and torn bodysuits—where most male dancers merely wear designer underwear and jockstraps. There is generally more distance between the female dancer and the customers. Less touching is allowed, and female dances frequently are provided with security, so it’s more often a visual performance than a physical one. “I never had to do anything ‘gross’, like touch anyone or let them touch me, though there were some instances where men got handsier than I would have liked…” says former go-go dancer, Jessica Delfino.

The experience of male go-go dancers is closer to a stripper’s experience. Touching and even groping is commonplace, and even expected. “Cash bursting out of every pelvic fold they’re equipped with, they’re aggressively vying for all of the eyes and dollars in the room,” describes Jeff Tetreault, the West Hollywood go-go boy. Tetreault must provide his own security, as well. In other words, he protects himself from the sometimes aggressive crowds. “I’m essentially a zoo animal.” And Tetreault admits to being desensitized to the grabbing. “You know people think because they have a dollar bill they have a magic wand of some sort.” In addition, Tetreault admits to feeling quite competitive with the other go-go boys. “I want to look the best I can, have the best bulge, and I want to earn money. I don’t want to be outdone by someone. I don’t like when I see another dancer get more attention.”

Zachary Zane, a Provincetown MA, go-go dancer, offers words of wisdom for gay men who attend performances. Touching respectfully, according to him, is acceptable, but there are limits. “I told you it was OK to touch, but let’s not take a mile when I gave you an inch…or eight.” In other words, customers shouldn’t squeeze too hard or hang on too long.

Alcohol and drug consumption is common among both male and female club dancers. One male dancer reports that in his circles there is a lot of drug use among dancers, including weed, cocaine, and Viagra, as well as injections to make them stay erect. Female dancers do not have to concern themselves with drugs to make them appear sexually aroused, but they also report the party aspect of this lifestyle as a major draw. Diana Brownie, a Canadian ski town former go-go dancer said, “I had graduated (university)….and didn’t really want to grow up. Whistler is like Never Never Land for adults.” Another dancer said, “My favorite part was the party…”

In my research, I also viewed several episodes of YouTube’s Go-go Boy, Interrupted about a male go-go dancer who aged out of the scene. Jimmie Fowlie asserts that club dancing encouraged a long span of party life with not much to show for it on the other side.

For many dancers, alcohol and drug dependence are some of the most serious long-term downfalls of the club dancing lifestyle. Delfino suggests that it was also a hard lifestyle to withdraw from, as the money was fast and easy to earn. She felt she had needed guidance that she didn’t receive during this time in her life, as Delfino was hiding her go-go dancing career from her family. She kept going into debt when working other jobs and then then would return to go-go dancing to make the bigger, quicker money.

Many dancers, in fact, feel they need to keep their go-go dancing life secret from family, but when asked directly if they’re ashamed of their job, their response was largely no. Tetreault says, “It’s not something I’m ashamed of. I see it as part of my journey. It’s my job—it isn’t my identity.” And Delfino asserts that it actually brought her confidence. “Getting on stage for the first time was petrifying and exhilarating in the same moment.” At first, she was shy, but her confidence quickly grew when she realized she could throw off her fears and do anything to survive, even something taboo. “I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong. I didn’t feel naughty. I didn’t feel bad. I didn’t feel creepy. I felt like a young woman who wanted to go to school…”

One of the trickiest aspects of go-go dancing is the constant propositions by customers for services that can be described as “more than dancing.” Guo Yang, one of Asia’s most popular go-go boys reports that “It’s quite common to receive sexual requests, which is understandable considering the nature of our performances. But it’s all about how you deal with it…If the request is too weird, you are always free to reject it. The weirdest request I’ve received was people asking me for my worn underwear.” One dancer calls the offering of these extra requests “privates”, where you go back to a private location with a client to cuddle or engage in sexual activity.

Another negative effect of working as a go-go dancer is the societal judgment one must deal with. Tetreault says, “I get very insulted when people like to call me a hooker, whore, prostitute, or man-whore because I don’t do that stuff…” A go-go boy reports, “I have heard the most absurd things you can imagine for being a go-go dancer. Many of us have a degree and a nine to five job. We are just normal people with a slightly unconventional job. But in the end it doesn’t matter because we are surrounded by friends and don’t really want to be close to people with little, simple minds anyway.” Guo Yang states, “People generally have a negative perception of go-go dancers…A lot of people are under the impression that go-go boys are motivated purely by money and would accept sexual requests but that is just a stereotype and cannot be generalized to everyone.” Jessica Delfino’s mother kicked her out of the home when she learned how her adult daughter was paying her college tuition. And there are other repercussions to go-go dancers functioning prominently in certain aspects of society. Does it encourage unrealistic body image stereotypes? Does it encourage people to use sexuality to gain money and attention? These are fair questions.

Although the money may be called “easy” life as a go-go dancer is quite challenging.

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If you are entering the comment contest, do not forget to enter your email address so I can send you your Amazon gift card if you win!!!

Mia

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Published on April 23, 2021 09:29

GO-GO boys: an inspiration for “Dimmy” in WHATEVER HE NEEDS

“The scenery I’m so eagerly soaking up is of the human variety. In particular, the barely legal go-go boy named Dimmy, who’s gyrating his unnaturally flexible body on top of a glowing lime-green cube set up dead center of the dimly lit, jam-packed dance floor. At the moment, he’s dancing—if you can call it that—to a smoky 80s tune.” (Whatever He Needs)

Dimmy on the lit-up cube[image error]

One of the two leading men in Whatever He Needs, my May 4th Contemporary Gay Romance releasing from Boroughs Publishing Group, is Dimitri Cirillo, AKA Dimmy. He’s a go-go dancer at All the Feels Lounge, a shabby gay bar in rustic Millbank Square.

Here’s the preorder link, if you’ve gotta grab WHATEVER HE NEEDS RIGHT NOW!!!

https://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/whatever-he-needs

Dimmy didn’t freely choose to be a go-go dancer, as did many of the subjects I came across in my research who chose go-go dancing as a means of acquiring “quick and easy” money. He is coerced to entertain in his father’s bar—dancing on a lime green, lit up cube set in the center of the dancefloor—as it’s expected that he’ll do whatever is necessary to earn his keep. His demanding father, Gregory Cirillo, confiscates all of his tips in exchange for allowing his son to live in a tired room above the bar.

Although go-go boys are an entertainment fixture in many gay (and other) social scenes around the world, I used the author’s creative license in my creation of Dimmy’s role as a club dancer at All the Feels. He performs, scantily clad and in a highly titillating manner, but his role at his father’s bar differs from that of many other go-go dancers.