Renae Kaye's Blog, page 17

Guest Interview - RG Green

Hi RG!  And thank you for joining me on my blog today.

For those who don’t know, RG is my new Release Day Buddy – our books are both out on the same day – which is FRIDAY!  Yay!  This Time It’s Personal (#3) follows on from When Past Comes To Present (#1), and Lasting Damage (#2).

Blurb:
Sequel to Lasting Damage
Beckett Investigations: Book Three

Feeling the strain of lost business thanks to the vicious articles by The Wheaton City Brigade, the city’s most inflammatory newspaper, private investigator Tyler Beckett accepts a cold case from Lt. Danny Baxter to fill the gap. He’s less than happy, however, when he learns the case may involve the same man who made him the target for The Brigade to begin with: Jamie Carroway.

Then a new article uncovers an incriminating piece of Tyler’s past, and the level of information revealed proves someone close to him is sharing details no stranger could know. And the verbal attack is only the first. Realizing it isn’t just the paper’s lead journalist intent on destroying his life, Tyler is forced to hunt for suspects close to home who have motive to ruin everything. But with no leads and no sure course of action, he soon finds himself faced with the need to protect his business and his fiancé, Sean St. Claire, and the very real danger of losing them both in the unavoidable fallout.


Pre-order from Dreamspinner, Amazon or ARe.

So it is wonderful to have my R.D.B join me on my blog.

RG:  Hi Renae, and thank you so much for having me here! 

So your new release is This Time It’s Personal.  It’s the third book in a series of Beckett Investigations.  I haven’t read the series, (sorry – it’s on my TBR list) but does the series follow the same couple all the way through?

RG:  Getting through the third book is pretty exciting milestone for me, and yes, all the stories follow two of my favourite characters to write – Tyler and Sean.  The other familiar faces are also there of course – Mark, Danny, and the ever-vicious Madison Huff – so each new story is a visit with old friends (and in the case of Madison, I suppose enemies).  For me as well as the readers J

Do you need to read the first two books before the third?  Or will it happily stand alone?

RG:  Honestly, they should be read in order since some of the events in the previous books have an impact on the events of the latest one. Not always a huge one, and not really anything that would leave a big hole in the story if readers started with This Time It’s Personal, but more to create a complete picture of the characters and the storyline and to see exactly how past events play a part in their current actions and behavior.  Starting at the beginning just means everything makes sense.

This doesn’t mean the books end in cliff-hangers though. I’m not a big fan of those, so I make sure each book does have a satisfying sense of closure. What loose ends are left are mild enough to ensure nobody is left hanging. 

Is this the end of the series?  Will Tyler and Sean get their Happily Ever After?  Or do you plan another book?

RG:  I’ve actually got one more book planned for Tyler and Sean, so they’re not quite to their HEA just yet.  They’re well on their way to it, but there’s still some bumps they’re going to have work through, with some more serious than others. And of course (though this *may* spoiler for the final book), while we’ve seen Madison take on Tyler throughout the series, we’ve yet to see Madison go toe-to-toe with Sean. That’s bound to be…eventful *grin*

The series sounds extremely intense.  Did you need to do a lot of research to get the legal bits right? What about the law enforcement side of things?

RG:  Getting the legal bits right is actually one of the hardest things about doing stories like Beckett Investigations.  None of my stories are ever intended to be “legal thrillers”, but since most of them do involve the law in some capacity, getting the legal facts right is critical for the story to work. This means a lot of research goes into elements that are not necessarily part of the overall story, but the end result is worth it. In fact, during the editing process of my first book, Jumping at Shadows, one of the editors commended me for making the legal fallout not only valid, but also realistic. It gave me such a good feeling knowing I got it right, but it took some work to do it. But I guess it’s like they always say: the devil’s in the details, and it’s the details that can make or break a story. 

I had a quick look at your other books too.  They all sound like they are detective/mystery novels.  Is that your preferred genre?

RG:  Oh yes, and I guess that’s pretty obvious judging by what I write. There’s just something about connecting the dots and following broken trails that really appeals to me, and I guess mysteries and law enforcement just seem to go hand-in-hand where stories are concerned. And when you add a couple of hot guys in the mix – it’s about as perfect as it gets.  That’s not to say I won’t write (or read) other genres, because I will and I do, but yes, mysteries really are my favourite. Regardless of the time period the stories take place.   

So in your novel Jumping at Shadows, your main characters are Eric and T.J.  So are you a psychic too?  Did you predict one of the greatest romances (Eric Arvin and TJ Klune) that happened under our own noses?

RG:  Lol - I would love to say yes to this, but the truth is I had no idea of what would happen between Eric and TJ while I was writing Jumping at Shadows. I’m going to have to just chalk that up to pure coincidence, much as I wish otherwise *grin*

Tell us a little about you.  Do you combine writing with a Real Life job?

RG:  There’s probably nothing exciting to say here, but for the basics: I prefer small towns over big cities, the mountains over the ocean, and rain over sunshine, odd as that is. I grew up listening to my dad typing on his old manual typewriter, and what started as simple curiosity about what he was doing grew into "oh, what happens next?" -  which started my love of books and kick-started my imagination about things that *could* happen...which then led to writing. Incessant curiosity and apparent gypsy blood makes me always want to see what’s over the next hill, although easily becoming bored means I can’t keep a hobby to save my life. But at least I’ve got the traveling bug out of my system, and even spent a few years living in Europe in addition to traveling around the US. My day job keeps my busy during the week now, but writing is what I would rather be doing. I just need to figure out how to put the two of them together J      

So what is next on your writing/releasing schedule?  When will your next novel be out?

RG:  In addition to This Time It’s Personal, I have a stand-alone novel coming out early next year called Miller’s Creek. It’s a bit of a break from the mystery/detective stories I love so much, although there is an element of putting the pieces together in the story. After that it’s back to the mystery genre, and kind of a toss-up between the final Tyler and Sean story and a stand-alone I’m putting the finishing touches on. I guess we’ll just have to see which of those comes first *grin*


Lastly, where can we contact you? 

Email if probably the easiest.  Just drop me a line at any time at greenr994@windstream.net.

You can also visit my blog at www.rggreenbooks.wordpress.com

Thanks for joining me, and good luck with your release!

Thank you for having me, and I’m wishing the same for you with your new release!  You’ve been an awesome RDB, and I’m so glad we’ve also become friends!  So until later…take care and all the best to you!

Honoured and Humbled - M/M Romance Awards

I sit here writing this blog with a great big goddamn lump in my throat.  I am so overwhelmed with pride and disbelief, I'm not sure whether I'm Arthur or Martha.  One thing I know I'm not, is Renae.  No, this couldn't be happening to little ole Renae.

No one can deny that 2014 has been a big year for me.  Not only did I release my first (ever!) novel, but I released my second and third, and my fourth is but days away.  And let us not forget my short story inclusion in the A Taste Of Honey Anthology.  It was always going to be a big year for me - but I never, ever, ever in my wildest dreams even hoped for the love for my books that has showered down on them.

And for that, I am truly humbled.  I can't even say it is a dream come true, because I never dared to dream that big.

So this year, when I saw the Goodread's M/M Romance Group's awards open, I hoped, just a little bit, that one of my books would be nominated.  I thought to myself, wouldn't it be nice if I could get nominated for just one of these categories?

So, it is with pride and tears of joy in my eyes, that I announce my nominations for the 2014 M/M Romance Member's Choice Awards. This last one chokes me up.

I wish to thank every single person who nominated me, or who wanted to nominate me, or even thought about nominating me. I'm honoured beyond belief.  And if you want to vote for me, I thank you as well.

Voting will open on Friday, and only members of the M/M Romance Group are eligible to vote.  Once the links are up, I'll let you know. 

When I started writing, I had an aim.  That aim was to entertain.  To make people laugh and fall in love with the characters.  I'm grateful I've succeeded.  I hope you've enjoyed the ride.

Don't forget, Safe In His Arms is release on FRIDAY 28th November.  For those in the US, this is Black Friday.  So instead of fighting the crowds, how about having a nice leisurely shower with Lon and Casey?

The book is available for pre-order from:
Dreamspinner
Amazon
All Romance eBooks

Always laugh,
Renae Kaye
Humbled Author
 

Guest interview - Cardeno C.

Today, I am very pleased to welcome my good friend, Cardeno C., who is a fellow author and Cafe Risque blogger.  Cardeno is one of the people I look up to with adoring eyes, hoping to emulate.

CC: I’m flattered by that but as your friend, I feel I should warn you that the list of people ahead of me more suited for being emulated is long. Very long. Very, very long.

For example, today, the doctor told me my Diet Coke habit was dangerous and I need to stop drinking it. This was after I “misplaced” my car yesterday for about half an hour and was so anxious afterward, I had to drive out of my way to find a McDonald’s and get three (yes three) large Diet Cokes. The good news is that helped yesterday. The bad news is, it set me up to fail at today’s doctor’s appointment.

We’ll have to work on finding you someone more worthy of emulation.

Hi Cardeno, and welcome.  Just a few quick questions to let us get to know you a bit better.  (I promise they’re not too painful).

1.        What is the hardest thing about being a writer?

CC: For me the hardest thing about being a writer has always been time. I don’t have enough of it. Between my other job and life, writing time is scarce. Add to that the work that goes along with writing books (which takes more actual time than the writing itself), and there aren’t enough hours in a day and night.

2.        How do you deal with criticism over your work?

CC: In a shiny, happy dream world everyone would read each of my books and decide they’re so amazing and wonderful and perfect in every way that they feel like buying me a lotto ticket to say thank you. I would then win all of those lottos. Also, I’d lose weight by eating Salt and Vinegar potato chips and donuts. And my doctor would encourage me to drink more Diet Coke. And McDonald’s would install one of their magic Diet Coke fountains in my house because their Diet Coke is the best Diet Coke.

In the real world though, I’m happy that each of us is an individual with individual opinions and tastes and perceptions. One of the magical things about books is that no two people read the same one and actually, I’d even say no one person reads the same book every time because mood/age/life experience can change.

As long as criticism is about my books and isn’t personal, I have no trouble chalking it to up the great salad bowl of life. Not everyone can like radishes, right? And if it is personal, well, I’ve been called worse to my face and in a louder voice. Such is life.

3.       What is your greatest personal fear?

CC: Moving heights. I can’t do roller coasters ever and if I’m on a skinny, curvy, mountain-top road I’m terrified the entire time. Still heights aren’t super either. I stay away from edges of tall things (e.g. buildings).

4.        What is your newest release?

CC: Blue Mountain, my new shifter novella released today (November 21st)! You can find links and a video trailer here: http://bit.ly/1vqCsWV and this is the blurb:

Exiled by his pack as a teen, Omega wolf Simon Moorehead learns to bury his gentle nature in the interest of survival. When a hulking, rough-faced Alpha catches Simon on pack territory, he tries to escape what he’s sure will be imminent death. But instead of killing him, the Alpha takes Simon home.

A man of action, Mitch Grant uproots his life to support his brother in leading the Blue Mountain pack. Mitch lives on the periphery, quietly protecting everyone, but always alone. A mate is a dream come true for Mitch, and he won’t let little things like Simon’s rejections, attacks, and insults get in their way. With patience, seduction, and genuine care, Mitch will ride out the storm while Simon slays his own ghosts and Mitch’s loneliness.

5.        Why did this particular story need to be told?

CC: I have all sorts of stories in my head and I jot down notes about them in my to-be-written list. This one called to me louder than the others, so I decided it was Blue Mountain’s turn. I prefer reading novels but end up reading more novellas due to time constraints and I assume I’m not alone so I try to write a mix of novels and novellas. I like reading both contemporary and paranormal, particularly shifters, so I try to do the same when I write. And although childhood friends to lovers is my favourite trope, I like a romantic hurt-comfort story. Blue Mountain is a hurt-comfort shifter novella – perfect for what I was in the mood to write. *smile*

Thanks for joining me today.  And I don’t need to say good luck, because I can tell this book is going to rock.  I’m so excited.

CC: Thank you, Renae! 


Links:  Click here to buy from Amazon

You can find Cardeno:

Website:  http://www.cardenoc.com/

Writing the “normal” in life

We’ve all done it.  We read about someone who gets their rocks off by doing **insert weird act here**

And we turn our nose up and go, “Really?” 

There are some really strange fetishes out there – from the harmless to the oh-let-me-ring-your-psychiatrist. The internet is opening up so many new ways to enjoy getting your jollies – and all anonymously.

And a lot of these “kinks” and “fetishes” and even “interests” are so out of left field for our pre-programmed mind that we never knew that we could be turned on by **insert weird (which turns out to be not-so-weird) act here**

I admit to doing it myself – that I didn’t even realise that something was sexy until I read it in a book somewhere.  We are so conditioned by movies and advertising to believe that sex only occurs between a man and a woman, in the missionary position, in a bed, under the sheets.  Oh, yes – and this man and woman must be of the highest standard of beauty.  For most sheltered teenagers, this is all they get to see.  Then suddenly there are books and internet websites and magazines… all showing us that different types of people, find different types of sex enjoyable.

I’ve read some strange books in my time – and really enjoyed them.  Do you want a romance with a blue-skinned alien?  You can find it.  Do you want m/m/m/f?  You can find it.  Do you want coming-of-age?  How about a May-December romance?

One thing I enjoy writing (and probably because I enjoy reading it) is normal people.  Yes, I laugh as I write the word “normal”, but I guess what I mean is everyday people, complete with their weird and not-so-weird interests.  My guys are not necessarily hot, good looking, important, rich, polite or even able-bodied.  They are the people you live next door to, or stand in line behind, or who is driving your taxi.  Like when Dreamspinner Press put the call out for short story submissions regarding bears, something inside me pinged.
For those who don’t know, bears are a subculture in themselves.  They are men who are gay – but they are big guys.  Not muscle-big, I mean I-don’t-do-tofu-diets big.  They are hairy, they are into “manly” pursuits, they are proud.  They don’t do fashion, or hairspray, or even gym classes.  They love being rounded, and they love other men who are that way too.

Are bears allowed to fall in love?  Absolutely.  So do they idolise the thin man and wish they knew how to colour their hair?  Oh, no – you have the wrong idea.  In a society where we talk about weight-loss constantly, bears enjoy being bears.  Do you think that it can’t be sexy?  It can.  It can be sexy, it can be romantic, it can be right.

You can buy the Anthology A Taste Of Honey from Dreamspinner here or from Amazon here.  Then you can see what I'm talking about.  Sexy, hairy men.  Rawr.



My new release, Safe in His Arms, features a big guy – a big muscle-bound guy.  Muscles, not because he is trying to achieve some sort of beauty he believes comes from only the highest standards of fitness, but muscles because he has nothing else to do but work out at the gym.  Yes, Lon has an empty life.  He doesn’t care about his looks, apart from knowing he can intimidate people when he wants to.  Yes, Lon is just an average, hairy, everyday guy.

Casey, on the other hand, wishes to be normal.  He suffered terrible abuse when he was younger, and is still struggling with the ripples of that.  He hates that he needs medication and counselling to help him cope with everyday life.  He feels vulnerable, scared and out-of-control.  He needs an anchor – and the big guy in the showers may just be that person.





I hope you enjoy Safe in His Arms.  It will be released on the 28th of November and is available for pre-order here.

Guest interview - New Zealand author, ES Skipper

Today on my blog we have a guest interview with my Kiwi neighbour, ES Skipper.  Emmett recently hit the best seller lists with his book, London Calling (Flight of the Kiwi #1).   

For those who don’t know, New Zealand and Australia have a love-hate relationship, rather like USA and Canada.  NZ are our “kiwi cousins”, and thus (as every Aussie knows) vastly inferior.  *wink*  But we allow them to be on “our side” during every war.  Now if we could only win that bloody rugby cup from them…   

Blurb:  Tamati Kumeroa is about to embark on his great adventure, his Gap Year, after finishing his arts degree. He’s talked about this with his best friend Steve for so long and now that it’s finally here, he can’t wait to get started. On his last night in New Zealand, the barman he’s lusted after for so long decides to make sure Tamati won’t easily forget him. Talk about bad timing….
His flight to London is certainly memorable, especially when a very rich Arab makes Tamati an offer that he’d be a fool to turn down. And when he accepts it, what he encounters is a very memorable time indeed, spent with a sexy man and a host of new friends.
His trip is off to a very interesting start. One thing Tamati didn’t bargain on was losing his heart… 



Renae:  Hi, Emmett.  Thanks for joining me on my blog today.   

Emmett: Hey Renae! Thanks for having me.   

Renae:  First up, do you follow the rugby?  How do you feel each time Australia beats NZ?    

Emmett: Hmm, it doesn’t happen that often so not bothered. We like to give our neighbours a chance now and again. Just so they don’t feel left out. ;)    

Renae:  Do you consider Aussies as your “cousins,” or are our cultures too different to be considered related?   

Emmett: All I will say is that we have your back, just like we know you will have ours. Our cultures are very different, and like you said, it’s a love-hate relationship. But we kinda sorta love you guys.   

Renae:  Tell me, is London Calling your first book?   

Emmett: It’s my first full length novelette. I have a short story in an anthology called Bollocks. My story No Worries Mate is based in NZ. Renae:  How did you start writing?   

Emmett: Fan Fiction actually. I read a few stories and thought I could do better than that. My brother told me to put my money where my mouth was and prove it.   

Renae:  Would you consider Flight of the Kiwi series to be a gay romance?  Gay literature?  Gay erotica?  All of the above?  

Emmett: Can I just say it’s a story.  But you will laugh and cry and get hot with the book.   

Renae:  Tell me a little bit more about Tamati.  Is he Maori?  

Emmett: Tamati is an art graduate doing his Oversea Experience, a common thing for young kiwi’s to do. He also has a heart of gold. He always finds the good in people. Maybe not always the right choice but it will never deter him. Tamati is part Maori. There is actually no full blooded Maori left.   

Renae:  Is this book a HEA?   

Emmett: The series has a HEA as for this story. It depends on how you look at it. I think that is up to the individual reader.        
Renae:  So what’s next in the series?    

Emmett: ‘Fountain of Dreams.’ Tamati is onto his next adventure where he will be in his element as an art graduate. He will get to visit the places he has only read about. Of course along the way he will meet other people making new friends and who knows who else.    

Renae:  Where can we buy London Calling? Emmett:  London Calling is available on Amazon - click here

You can contact Emmett on Facebook:
  https://www.facebook.com/e.s.skipper

Meet-The-Character Blog Hop

I’ve been tagged by my lovely neighbour Meredith Shayne (if you can call New Zealand next door to Perth).  We are creating a blog hop, the idea being to talk about your character from your latest release or Work In Progress (WIP).

Meredith’s latest release is called Cutting Out and is a wonderful shearing novel, much like my own.  You can find her post here (http://meredithshayne.com/2014/10/27/meet-the-character-blog-hop/) for her character, Shane.

(Click to buy from Amazon)

Blurb:  A twenty-year veteran of the shearing shed, Aussie Shane Cooper loves his job, and the home he’s made for himself in New Zealand. If he’s a little lonely, he’s got good mates to keep his spirits up. When a hot, cocky young shearer named Lachlan Moore catches his eye at a competition, he’s content to look but not touch, knowing the young man is out of his league.

Lachie wouldn’t mind a piece of Shane, but the gorgeous gun shearer from Australia is soon forgotten when the Christchurch earthquake hits, and tragedy strikes Lachie’s family. Lachie deals with it the best he can, cutting himself off from all he knows. A year later and he’s back in the shearing shed, out of practice and lacking confidence. That Shane’s there to watch him flounder doesn’t help his nerves.

As Lachlan struggles to re-acclimatise, Shane can’t resist giving him a hand to get back on his feet. As they move from friends to something more, Shane finds himself wanting to know everything he can about Lachie. But Lachie’s got secrets he desperately wants to keep, and when things come to a head, those secrets might just mean the end of them before they’ve truly begun.

I can’t wait to read this story!
My shearing story was released a number of weeks ago and is called The Shearing Gun.  For those who don’t know, a shearing gun is a super fast shearer.  They are top class and well sought.  The Shearing Gun is the story of a firmly closeted shearer by the name of Hank who finds the closet door not shut so firmly when newbie doctor, Elliot is around.

What is the name of your character?

Hank Woods.  His real name is Henry, but he dislikes that, so he calls himself Hank.

When and where is the story set?

The story is set in present day and its central location is a little town called Dumbleyung in the rural south-west of Western Australia.  Dumbleyung is a very real town, and some of the scenes take place in the historic pub there, but the characters and other locations are fictional.

What should we know about him?

Hank is a shearing gun – one of the top shearers in the state.  He was kicked out of home when he was twenty when his father found out he was gay.  You see, Hank’s uncle is also gay.  Twenty years previous, when the local lads found out about his Uncle Murray, they beat the man rather badly.  Hank is scared that he will receive the same sort of attitude.  He knows that no one will hire a queer shearer or buy stock from a gay man.  So he keeps his orientation firmly to himself.
What is the main conflict?  What won’t he talk about?  What messes up his life? 

Enter the new doctor in town – Doctor Elliot Stockton-Montgomery.  Elliot is fresh from the city, a bit out of his depth with the country stuff and more than a little lonely.  When Hank is injured during a football game, he ends up getting the doctor into the clinic on a Sunday.  Elliot accidently lets a couple of lustful glances go, revealing himself to Hank.  He comes to Hank’s place to apologise and there starts a great friendship.  But will friendship be enough?  What happens when they become more than friends?

What is the personal goal of the character?

Hank’s a pretty simple man.  He wants a home, a job and to be working the land.  He’s never considered a partner in all this – he never thought it was possible.  But when he falls in love with Elliot, he is lost.  Elliot will be leaving at the end of the year.

He now finds his goals changing – he wants the man too.

Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

This book is called The Shearing Gun.

Blurb:  At twenty-five, Hank owns a small parcel of land in Australia’s rural southwest where he supplements his income from the property with seasonal shearing.  Hank is a “shearing gun”—an ace shearer able to shear large numbers of sheep in a single day. His own father kicked him out when his sexuality was revealed, and since no one would ever hire a gay shearer, Hank has remained firmly closeted ever since.

Elliot is the newbie doctor in town—city-born and somewhat shell-shocked from his transplant to the country. When a football injury brings Hank to Elliot’s attention, an inappropriate sexual glance and the stuttered apology afterward kickstarts their friendship. Romance and love soon blossom, but it’s hard for either of them to hope for anything permanent. As if the constant threat of being caught isn’t enough, Elliot’s contract runs out after only a year.

When can we expect the book to be published or when was it published?

The book was released in September 2014 and is available from:
Dreamspinner
Amazon
Barnes & Noble 
All Romance eBooks

Now the fun bit, I get to tag two people:

Beany Sparks is a newbie author and a fellow Perthite.  Her newest story out is called Ryan's Wizard.

Blurb: An alpha ends up with more than he bargained for when he finds his mate...his wizard mate.

After years of no contact, Oliver “Olly” Grey was finally able to reunite with his cousin Aiden. He’s surprised to find that Aiden now has a mate—a male, shifter mate—named Lex. And it’s Lex’s pack mates that Olly is there to help save. What he hadn’t expected was Lex’s brother Ryan.

Ryan Shepherd was happy to have found his brother Lex, and even happier to know that his brother was happily mated. But there is something about Aiden’s cousin Olly that Ryan doesn’t trust, especially when he also smells like the man currently holding his pack members captive. Yet that doesn’t stop Ryan from wanting to hold and comfort the man, and eventually he realizes why—Olly is his mate.

Now the four of them need to plan a rescue mission, but what happens when they run into the two men that had held Lex captive and those same men come to the cabin in the middle of the night?

Safe in His Arms - now available for pre-order

Safe in His Arms

Now available 
for pre-order from Dreamspinner:  Click here.


Release date:  28th November 2014  
(Perfect for Black Friday reading.  Don't be bored!)

Blurb:  In the late-night quiet of the caravan park shower room, Lon Taylor washes away the filth of the Western Australian mines. He’s not looking for anyone, but when Casey offers, Lon doesn’t turn him down. 

Welcoming the young man in his big, hairy arms, Lon provides a safety to Casey that he has never known, and Casey wants to stay forever. Still reeling from the breakup of his family years ago, Lon’s not sure he’s ready for the responsibility of the comfort and security Casey craves. 

But perhaps Lon can risk opening his heart again and hoping for a brighter future. Casey has some pretty big skeletons in his past to deal with. And Lon wonders what Casey will do when he finds out how badly Lon failed at protecting the ones he loved eight years ago.

Guest post - Nic Starr

Joining me on my blog today is the wonderful Nic Starr.  She is a wonderful author and I am counting down the days until her next release.  I've already paid for it, I just need it to go live so I can dive into the story.  I love Nic's style - romantic and ALWAYS a happy ending.  {squishy hugs}

Nic has a couple of novellas out - It's Not Easy and Waiting, Hoping, Wishing - which I loved, so I'm very happy to host Nic on my blog today.



Thanks for joining me Nic, to talk about your new novella A Day at a Time which will be released on the 29th of October.

Blurb:  Sean Vargos is quiet, well respected, and dedicated to his job. But Dave Simpson sees Sean as more than a coworker. He's fought his attraction to Sean for months but can't get him out of his thoughts. 

They tentatively embark on a relationship, but Sean isn’t all that he seems. He struggles to put his past behind him and overcome his fears. 

Dave, with his good looks and open nature, accepts that sometimes Sean’s doubts get the better of him and he runs. Dave just wants the chance to show Sean he can be trusted and the past doesn't have to dictate their future.

Hi Renae! Thank you so much for having me visit. It’s a pleasure to be here.



Tell me about your new novella.

A Day At A Time is a contemporary romance. Dave and Sean, work together in the marketing department of a large company. Dave has a crush on his colleague and the story starts when he decides to act on his feelings. It’s a story about taking things slowly, overcoming past hurt and learning to trust.

How would you describe this romance?  Dark and angsty?  Sweet and romantic?  Hot and erotic?

I write on the sweeter side. I love an emotional story and definitely have a soft spot for romance. Sean has a lot of baggage. He needs to come to terms with aspects of his past which prevent him from trusting other people. So there is a bit of angst but there’s also a dash of romance and some sweet loving.
Your first novel was It’s Not Easy. Now this one is A Day at a Time.  It sounds like your characters need a lot of inner strength.  Coincidence?  Or is this a theme of yours?

I‘ve had a few good laughs over the titles I’ve chosen for my books – they could well reflect my writing/publication journey! My next release is called More Than A Superstar so I’m hoping that’s prophetic. *grin*

Overcoming life’s challenges, good rising over evil, finding true love, happy endings – it’s the stuff of fairy tales but also real life, and where my stories seem to head. I haven’t made a conscious decision to place my characters in these situations but I am comfortable there. I enjoy taking my characters on a journey— experiencing their pain and their happiness, watching them grow and rise above all obstacles, and eventually bringing them together. I love big happy endings, public declarations of love…I’m very much a romantic.

Give us a brief description of each of your characters – Sean and Dave.

Sean is very focused at work. He’s a high achiever, a good leader and a loyal friend. However Sean is shy and reserved when it comes to relationships and he struggles to trust after experiencing heartache.  He’s a good looking guy but he lacks confidence and has let his past tragedy alter his enjoyment of life.

Dave’s career has been his focus but he’s now looking for love. He’s naturally outgoing but prepared to take things slowly with Sean. Dave has movie-star looks and is confident but doesn’t give his own appearance a second thought. It’s what’s inside that’s more important to Dave.

Check out the cover if you want a glimpse of these gorgeous boys look like. Don’t you just love a man in a suit? *grin*
What compelled you to write Sean and Dave’s story?

I started to write this story in response to a submission call for stories with a hurt/comfort theme, although it’s being published as a stand-alone novella. I have many ideas for stories just waiting to be told, and Sean and Dave seemed to fit the theme perfectly.

This is your second novella.  Do you have another one coming?  What is that one about?

More Than A Superstar is long novella length story soon to be published by Dreamspinner Press.

In this story, Sam has lost his parents and spent the last few years establishing a catering business with his aunt. He wants to give back to the aunt who supported him, and dreams of having a family of his own. When his aunt is hospitalised for an extended period, he struggles under his responsibilities. Sam meets Rob and it is Rob who provides him with support.

Rob has secrets. His life in the public eye has taken its toll and he now lives with the repercussions. But when he falls for Sam, he thinks things are finally going his way. But just as Sam and Rob find their happiness, another secret threatens to tear them apart.

So keep an eye out for the book which is expected to be published 17th December 2014.

Is a novella length story your choice of word count?  Do you think you will write more novellas in the future?

I don’t set a word count at the start of the process, novella length is just how the stories have evolved. It’s not until I’m part the way in, with a clear idea of the story outline, that I get a true sense of how long the story will be. The stories come to their own natural conclusion.

That being said, A Day At A Time was limited somewhat by submission criteria. It was written for a submission call with an 18k word limit. But I don’t think additional words were required to tell Dave and Sean’s story, and I planned the story to make sure I would be able to do it justice at that length.

So in answer to your question, yes, I do think I will write more novellas in the future. However, my current WIP, has reached over 60k words. So if all goes well, expect a full length novel sometime next year!
 
Thanks, Renae!


My absolute pleasure, Nic.


You can purchase this book from:
Dreamspinner
Amazon

You can contact Nic Starr on any of the following:
Website: www.nicstarr.com
Email: nicstar000@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicki.nicstar
Twitter: @nicstar000
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nicstar000/

Cover reveal - Safe in His Arms

Okay okay!  Here it is!
Blurb:  In the late-night quiet of the caravan park shower room, Lon Taylor washes away the filth of the Western Australian mines. He’s not looking for anyone, but when Casey offers, Lon doesn’t turn him down.

Welcoming the young man in his big, hairy arms, Lon provides a safety to Casey that he has never known, and Casey wants to stay forever. Still reeling from the breakup of his family years ago, Lon’s not sure he’s ready for the responsibility of the comfort and security Casey craves.

But perhaps Lon can risk opening his heart again and hoping for a brighter future. Casey has some pretty big skeletons in his past to deal with.  And Lon wonders what Casey will do when he finds out how badly Lon failed at protecting the ones he loved eight years ago.

Scheduled release date:  28th of November 2014
From Dreamspinner Press.  (Links to come)

Whaddya think??  I'm so in love with it!  My cover artist was Anna Sikorska and I think she has done a FABULOUS job.  Thank you Anna!

Gah!  I'm going to print this one off and plaster my writing space with it!  

Guest interview - Jack Byrne

Thanks for joining me on my blog today, Jack, to talk about your new novella Dingo Run which will be released on the 22nd of October.

Jack Byrne:  Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Renae!  I appreciate it!

Blurb:
Sequel to Billabong and Walkabout.  Book Three in the series.

New South Wales, Australia, 1876. As captured outlaws, Jim Kelly and Mark Turner face the gallows. Help comes from an unexpected quarter, but their hasty escape goes wrong and now Jim's life hangs by a thread. Mark is driven by desperation to form an alliance with an infamous bushranger who may hold clues to his mysterious past. But as Jim and Mark’s relationship intensifies, it is also tested. Their secret is discovered, tempers fray, and jealousy flares.


Hi Jack.  Tell me – just exactly what is a “dingo run”?

You’re an Aussie, but since you’re from Perth I’ll forgive you for not knowing that one!  (Somebody should do a study on the geographical distribution of slang terms throughout Australia!  It’s like everyone from overseas expects us to speak the same language, when in reality our slang can be as different as the slang from Georgia vs New York!)  For those of you who don’t know, Renae lives about 4,000 km from me in another time zone!

“Doing the dingo run” means running for every waking moment, basically someone or something who never stops running.  It comes from the habit dingoes have of constantly running or loping around.  I used to own a dingo when I was on a big property, and that dog would never stop moving.  Other dogs would sit and rest, but the dingo would jog constantly around, patrolling the borders of the property.

My main characters in the Bushrangers Series (The Billabong, Walkabout and Dingo Run) are Jim Kelly and Mark Turner.  They are forced to flee the law constantly and can never stop in one place for too long, for fear of being tracked down and shot, because there is a price on Mark’s head.  So they are doing the ‘dingo run.’
This is the third book in a series of novellas.  Does the reader need to know what happened in the first two books?

Yes, really they do.  To read ‘Dingo Run’ on its own would be kind of puzzling I think.  This novella completes a story arc between Jim Kelly and Mark Turner. Before the end of Dingo Run they were not that secure in their relationship or even their ability to survive.

By the end of Dingo Run, they are each starting to gain a deeper understanding of the other's character and to develop some confidence in each other. That's not an easy thing to have done considering the dangers they faced every day and the fact that they were basically thrown together as complete strangers.

Is there a Book Four?  What is it called and when should it be out?

There certainly is, but it’s longer!  ‘Rainbow Dreaming’ is a novel, from about 50,000 to 70,000 words, so that for the first time readers (and the author!) will be able to hold a printed Bushrangers book in their hot little hands!  I’m up to 40,000 words on that one!

Do you find it hard to get the historical aspects correct when writing a period piece?

Not really, but this is an era and a location I’m familiar with.  I’d find it hard to write about say, 15th century France.  But with series, because I have worked stock myself, the old saddles and the lifestyle are all familiar to me.  Also in Australia our local history is pretty well covered in school, so a lot of this stuff is familiar to me from that.  In addition, as a child I often listened to my grandmother and uncle tell long stories about their grandfathers/grandmothers and other relatives who actually lived back in this era (my grandmother was born in the second half of the 19th century).

There is a slightly unusual aspect to writing the Bushrangers series, which still puzzles me.  A couple of times I have written down historical place names or character details that I’ve made a vague guess at (to be frank, several times I’ve made them up) figuring I’ll come back and replace them with more accurate details later.  But when I research them, I find out that they are already accurate. This book is set in Australia.  Do you always write in this setting, or do you like to spread out and do some other settings too?

Of course as an Australian I am familiar with this country, so I tend to write what I know.  (This gives the Dreamspinner editors kittens.  They put a glossary of Australian terms in the front of every book I write.)  I try very hard not to put slang into my stories but apparently it sneaks in anyway.  I have written one short story set in America, and even have the guy looking out at the ‘Nebraska countryside’ in the second paragraph.  Then after about five reviews noting that the story is ‘set in Australia’ I gave up gracefully. I am always going to sound Australian and there’s nothing I can do about that.

Do you really think gay relationships happened as described in our gay romances?  Back then, were gays romantic, do you think?

Despite all the attempts over the millennia to whitewash gay literature out of existence, it’s obvious to any serious student of same that there is a rich culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual relationships throughout recorded history.  When you consider that often throughout those times, the penalty for being homosexual was often imprisonment or death, it is amazing that any details of such relationships were recorded at all.  I think it shows how powerful the urge to love and be loved has been, even in the face of horrendous opposition.  I think that’s immensely romantic.

Mark Turner is very much aware of the forbidden nature of his relationship with Jim.  In fact you’ll find if you read ‘The Billabong’ it’s the reason Mark is a fugitive.  Jim would know simply that such things have never been spoken about by his parents or family, that it is a taboo subject, and he would follow Mark’s lead.  But to some extent their isolation in such a wild, backwards country, and their fugitive lifestyle, would protect them from exposure and prosecution.

And lastly, just what exactly is that rider doing on the cover of your book?  Does he have his hands down the other man’s pants???    Is that even possible when riding?

You’d be amazed what a couple of really good riders can get up to on horseback (enigmatic smile).  Australia is a vast, empty country.  I actually toned that scene down a great deal *grin*.

Click the following links to buy Dingo Run:
Direct from publisher website:  Dreamspinner
Available also on Amazon.

You can contact Jack Byrne on any of the following:

Website:              http://fugitive1701.yolasite.com

Email:                 jackaroo_byrne@hotmail.com

Facebook:           https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007062756906

Twitter:               @JackByrneAuthor