A
post on the pros and cons of writing ménage
For
Julie Lynn Hayes’ blog
One thing I’ve
heard from folks who don’t care for ménage stories is that the ‘third’ always
feels like a third wheel. And I can see that. I’ve read stories where I got
that feeling too.
But on the
other hand, I have friends who are in polyamorous relationships. One thing I
want to clear up is the misconception that a polyamorous relationship is no
different from an open-relationship agreement: one committed couple, with some lighthearted
fun on the side. But the word “polyamory,” by definition, means loving more
than one.
That’s what Trouble Comes in Threes is: Three men
loving one another.
One of the
things I really focused on in Trouble, outside of the whole shifter aspect, was
the ‘why’ of their relationship. Dolf and Tal were already a couple, and here I
was throwing a third at this happy and established relationship.
What was I
thinking???
Believe me,
they asked the same thing too. But as I wrote the story, guess what? I found
they weren’t as settled as I first thought. I don’t want to give out spoilers,
but each man had certain needs not being met. Were those needs enough to wreck
the relationship?
I had no idea.
And that’s the
point of Kirk, and the concept of Trouble. Kirk brought balance to an
established relationship. He wasn’t just an add-on; he was the missing part. In
this case, the whole wasn’t made up of two parts. It was made up of three, lol.
Combining two
lives can be hard. Any newly married couple can tell you that, lol! Combining
three lives, I imagine, can be a special kind of insanity. *snicker* Kirk, Tal,
and Dolf face that in the book. Taking a couple who has lived together for
thirty years and then having Kirk join them, a man who is used to living alone…
yeah, you have growing pains, lol. Part of this story is their coming together
as a unit.
My three men were
determined to make this work, though. They are mates, and isn’t that what most
people do in a relationship? They work at it. There are bumps in the road they
deal with as they learn about each other, sure. Questions arise, and they each
learn new things about themselves as they tightened the bond between them.
*snicker* Then
you have the shifter aspect. That’s a whole another can of worms, lol! The
trouble they face isn’t that they’re in a polyamorous relationship. It’s rare,
but not unheard of. No, lol, the problem comes from the fact Kirk is human. Not
all shifters agree human mates are the gift they are supposed to be. One, in
fact, is ready to kill over it.
Book Name: Trouble Comes in
Threes
Author Name: M.A. Church
Author Bio:
M.A. Church
is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education
sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded
aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt
her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey,
someone’s gotta do it!
When not
writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her
beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back
porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The
ducks are very outspoken. She’s
married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children.
She was a
finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013.
Author Contact:
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Blurb(s):
A snowstorm in the South—on New Year’s Eve—is a perfect recipe for a
catastrophe. After two soul-crushing bad breaks, Kirk’s waiting for disaster
number three to strike when naturally, two stray cats arrive on his doorstep
during the storm and decide to make themselves at home. Tenderhearted Kirk lets
them stay even though there’s something decidedly odd about his overly friendly
felines.
Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal.
They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome
is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder
that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats
would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.
Categories:
Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Menage/Poly, Paranormal, Romance
Excerpt:
Dolf picked out the saw he wanted, then followed Tal
to another aisle. His mate pointed out the different kinds, but Tal’s words had
rapidly faded into a meaningless buzz. There, on the air currents in the store,
was the sweetest scent. It was light and flowery, reminding him of honeysuckle.
He breathed deeply, taking the scent into himself. His cock hardened
immediately and his head spun. A yowl threatened to escape.
That scent… that scent
was seductive and alluring. It spoke to him, whispering things that made
him need. His cat paced frantically in his mind, tail slashing madly. The need
to pounce, to sink his canines in and drink that sweet, life-giving blood of
his…. His gums tingled and saliva flooded his mouth.
He swallowed, then swallowed again as his head
pounded, his heart rate spiking as one thought screamed through his mind: Mate! Another mate! Where was that scent
coming from? Or who? And by the goddess, why? He already had a mate. What was
their goddess thinking, giving him another? But he couldn’t ignore the
reaction. It had been the same when he met Tal.
Pages: 234
Tour Dates/Stops:
15-Dec
16-Dec
17-Dec
18-Dec
The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of
Chris T. Kat
19-Dec
22-Dec
23-Dec
24-Dec
25-Dec
26-Dec
Sales Links:
Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5885
Rafflecopter Prize: E-Book Copy
of ‘Trouble Comes in Threes’
Thanks for having me!
ReplyDelete~M