Sunday, August 31, 2014

Guest Blogger: LM Brown

Please welcome fellow author LM Brown, who is going to talk about her newest release, Forbidden Waters.

Welcome to Atlantis

Of all the underwater cities lost to us, hidden below the waves, Atlantis, if it ever existed outside of the imagination of Plato, is certainly the most famous. 

Goodness, wouldn't every writer want to make up a place that has lasted in the memories of mankind as long as Atlantis has? 

But I get side-tracked. What if the legend of this enduring continent which sank below the ocean thousands of years ago didn't end there?

For my Mermen & Magic series, I took the idea that Atlantis didn't simply end after the disaster that sank it.  What if the Atlantean gods and goddesses helped their people to survive beneath the ocean?  What if the indigenous mer people and the Atlanteans learned to share their space in the ocean?  An alliance between two vastly different species, both watched over by the Atlantean pantheon, who gave their human followers the ability to survive at great depths and at the same time adopted the mer people as their own.

Two worlds, combined into one centuries before, but now torn apart.

In the present day the Atlanteans are gone from Atlantis and only the mer remain there.  Atlantis is a decaying city protected and hidden by the controlled, but untamed, sea dragons.  It is the only safe haven in the ocean for the mer.

The temples of the gods and goddesses are deserted and the immortals who once watched over them are mostly absent.   No longer worshipped by the Atlanteans and the mer people, their powers are weakened, but are mysteriously growing once again.

In the Atlantis of my new series the city is about to come to life once more.

For as long as there are those searching for the lost continent, for as long as there are writers bringing it to life in fiction, the legend of the lost city of Atlantis never truly dies. 

I hope readers enjoy my take on Atlantis.



Blurb

To save his clan from ever-increasing shark attacks, merman Kyle seeks sanctuary for his people in the sunken city of Atlantis, even though he knows that as a homosexual merman, he will be sacrificing his own chance for love. Love finds him anyway in the form of Prince Finn, the rebellious young heir to the Atlantean throne.

When their relationship is discovered, Kyle is the one to pay the price. Banished from the oceans, he seeks shelter in England and finds a new love with human, Jake Seabrook.

For Jake, Kyle is the chance to move on from the crush he has on his straight best friend. The strange man he found naked on the beach seems to fit into his life with ease.  If only Kyle weren’t keeping secrets from him, Jake could see them having a future together.

Things are not what they seem for either of the men and when Kyle discovers the truth about Finn, he knows he must return to Atlantis.

Three men, a tangled relationship, and one chance for happiness—if they can trust enough to take it.


Excerpt

Kyle passed Calder his trident back and once he was alone, he started to test the weapons for weight, length and sharpness. He had just picked up his fifth trident when he heard a movement behind him. He spun round on reflex and nearly speared the young prince through the chest.
“That’s some weapon you have there,” the prince said with a grin, as he pushed the trident aside carelessly. Kyle hoped the prince realised how lucky he was the prongs on this particular weapon were blunt. “You insulted me when you left the palace.”
Kyle cringed. “I apologise, Your Highness. This is all very new to me.”
“Finn.”
“What?”
“My name’s Finn.”
Kyle felt a little ignorant at not knowing the name of the prince and heir of Atlantis already. He wondered if he was in trouble for his not entirely unintentional insult.
“You never answered my question, either,” Finn said.
“You didn’t ask me a question.”
Finn rolled his eyes. “Fine, you never clarified just how many of those mer-babies are yours—or whether my guess was right.”
Kyle thought about lying and repeating King Nereus’ reason for not knowing the answer, but he was by nature an honest merman and he decided the truth was probably the best option. If he chose to stay in Atlantis, he would no doubt be caught in the lie anyway. “You guessed correctly,” he admitted.
Finn’s grin widened. “And how many of those pretty mermaids you’ve brought with you to Atlantis have you taken?”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Prince or not, Kyle didn’t want to answer his impertinent question.
Finn moved forward and ran a finger down the centre of Kyle’s chest. “Would you like me to guess how many?”
“Not really.”
Finn learned close, as though he might whisper in his ear, even though they spoke telepathically. “None.”
“Wrong,” Kyle replied with a grin of his own.
“One then,” Finn amended, “before you realised your preference for the males of our species.”
Kyle kept his expression blank as Finn summed up his entire sexual experience with mermaids in one eerily accurate sentence.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” Finn stroked his hand over Kyle’s smooth chest. Most mermen didn’t develop excessive body hair. Although there were a few exceptions, Kyle was with the majority in being smooth skinned. “How many mermen have you taken as a lover?”
The prince was certainly persistent in his questioning. Kyle pushed his hand away irritably. “What do you care if I’ve had relations with a hundred mermen?”
Finn didn’t take a hint and put his hand back where it had been a moment before. “Have you known a hundred?”
Kyle could tell he wasn’t going to get away with evasive answers, so he decided to stick to the truth in the hope Finn would be satisfied and disappear back to his palace before Calder or one of the trainees came in and saw them.
“I’ve taken just one merman as a lover.”
“Is he here in Atlantis?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I’m curious about my competition.” Finn smiled up at him through his flyaway hair. “Is he here?”
“No. He chose to find a new clan where he could love who he wants without censure.”
“Why didn’t you go with him?” Finn appeared genuinely curious.
“I have a duty to my clan to see them safe. That comes before my own selfish desires.”
Finn finally removed his hand from Kyle’s chest and swam back a couple of feet. “There are options if you still desire the touch of a merman here in Atlantis,” Finn said. “If you know where to look.”


Buy Link


By the time this post goes live Forbidden Waters will also be available at Amazon, All Romance Ebooks and many other online stories. 

Bio

L.M. Brown lives in England, in a quaint little village time doesn't seem to have touched. No, wait a minute—that's the retirement biography. Right now, she is in England in a medium sized town no one has ever heard of, so she won't bore you with the details. Keeping her company are numerous sexy men. She just wishes they weren't all inside her head.

L.M. believes there is nothing hotter or sweeter than two men in love with each other… unless it is three.

L.M. Brown loves hearing from readers so don't be shy.

Links

Where to find L.M. Brown
Twitter - @LMBrownAuthor


Thanks for stopping by, LM, come back again soon!

Saturday, August 30, 2014

My Sexy Saturday #21:

This week's Sexy Saturday has to do with sci fi romance, so I thought I would bring you a little taste of Taz and Reed. You  may remember them from Be My Alien, which M.A. Church and I wrote together. Now they're back, in Be My Human, coming out with Dreamspinner on October 31. Taz is an alien with some unusual qualities, and Reed is his human lover. Enjoy!



Be My Human

“Reed, when can we get the swing you told me about?” He ran his tongue up the inside of Reed’s thighs, over the lightly haired delicate skin.
Reed thought he might lose it then and there. The very thought of having Taz in a swing stirred his imagination and his libido. But that was in the future, certainly not now. “We can’t. Not yet,” he panted. “I don’t think this ceiling… will hold… oh shit…” Before he’d even finished speaking, Taz had pushed him down into one of the two chairs in the room.
“Want to ride you,” Taz moaned. He turned about and bent over, presenting Reed with his plugged ass. “Pull it out, please. It’s time for you to be inside me, not that…”
It was time, Reed agreed, as he carefully removed the toy. He couldn’t help but think of its expensive counterpart, the overindulgent model that had originally brought them together, and he had to smile. This particular version, while not nearly as costly or sparkly, was perfect for their purposes, and had done its job well, keeping Taz simmering all day long. Of course, to be honest, that wasn’t hard for Reed to do.
“Lube, babe,” he murmured. “We need the lube.” He couldn’t resist lightly slapping that magnificent backside, remembering just how wonderful his lover’s dark place tasted. “Hurry,” he added, not sure how long he could keep himself under control. Taz lunged across the bed, not bothering to walk around it. He yanked out the drawer to the side table, spilling the contents on the carpet. Not taking time to pick anything up, he grabbed the tube of lube, rolled over and returned to Reed’s side, holding it out for his use.
God, but Taz was gorgeous… that was the last coherent thought he had as he teased Taz with the plug, sliding it between his legs and rubbing against his balls, before tossing it aside on the table next to him. He spread the slick, cool lube on his dick, hoping the sudden cold would dampen his need to come, and grasped Taz’s hip with one hand. Oh, Taz would ride all right, but he’d do it this way—facing away from him. Reed wanted to see his dick sliding in and out of that quivering hole.

“Straddle me, Taz.” Reed held his dick as Taz scooted back, his legs on either side of Reed’s. “That’s it, babe. Slide down on that dick.”



Friday, August 29, 2014

Feature & Follow Friday

Question of the Week: Tell us about a book character you’d trade places with.



That's a hard question, and I'm not sure I would do that. If you're familiar with the book and the character, you know everything that will happen, so what kind of a life is that? 

On the other hand, if I trade places with the character, maybe I can change the outcome of whatever happened to him or her.  

So let's think about this. I can trade with Scarlett O'Hara, and keep Rhett Butler's love and quit pining for Ashley Wilkes. I wouldn't mind trading places with Desiree, though, and then I'd be loved by Napoleon (even if he does jilt me) and then get to marry a Marshall of France and later become Queen of Sweden. That sounds really cool. But then, speaking of Napoleon, if I changed places with Betsy Balcombe, from The Last Love, and be a friend to him.

So many choices. I think I'll go with Cardinal Richelieu, of the Three Musketeers and have fun fighting the musketeers and ruling the country of France.


Thursday, August 28, 2014

Tease Me Thursday #25: Lust Never Sleeps

It's almost Friday, and not only that, but it's the start of a three day weekend for those in the US - Labor Day! Hooray! What better way to celebrate than sharing some WIPS? Tease Me Thursday is a place for authors to show off their WIPs or their published works - 7 words, 7 sentences, or 7 paragraphs.



Today, I'm giving you a taste of Lust Never Sleeps, which I am currently posting both at Literotica and Gay Authors. It's a quirky, dark comedy, with steampunk elements as well as romance. This is the beginning, where Darryl meets Sawyer Enjoy! And don't forget to visit the other authors in the hop!

Lust Never Sleeps

“How good is your French accent?”

“I beg your pardon?” Darryl craned his neck, peering around him, but there was no one close enough who could be considered to be within earshot. No one paying the slightest attention. So that settled that. This lunatic must be talking to him.

This rather lovely, albeit strange, lunatic.

“Do you parlez vous Francais? Speak a little frog? Enough to be mistaken for a native? If not a native, someone from Canada maybe?”

The speaker was gorgeous, in a cat-walk drop-dead kind of way. Blond hair, short, slicked back. Dirty blond, actually. With just a trace of stubble around his lips and chin. And cinnamon eyes. The kind of guy that made Darryl’s heart beat faster than a junkie’s on speed.

Darryl hadn’t intended to come to Hannagan’s tonight. He was tired of one night stands. Tired of the same old, same old. Tired of being treated like nothing more than a pretty face, a quick roll in the hay. Tired of people recognizing him for a few sleazy tabloid shots. That was long over and hardly worth remembering. He hadn’t even known who the guy was until he found himself in the backseat of his Mercedes, sucking his cock like no tomorrow. Not till the flash bulbs went off and his name and face were promoted to the front page of every supermarket rag around. He never saw or heard from the stranger again—imagine that.


This guy didn’t seem interested in all of that. Although what he was after, Darryl couldn’t figure out for the life of him. But something inside of him, some little tickle, told him to at least play along. For now.

And now for the link:


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wednesday Briefs: Don't Looks Back Eleven (3.1)

Happy Hump Day, everyone! The work week is half done, and the weekend is almost here! So take a break with the Wednesday Briefers, read some flash fiction and have some fun. And be aware that we have a FLASH VIRGIN this week!

Last week, we saw Lee come up with an idea for a night out with Marshall, and Roy's coming along too. See what they're up to at Partners. And don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!

Don't Look Back #11 (3.1)


Despite Lee’s warnings—or perhaps because of them—Marshall spent the entire day breaking in his new boots in preparation for the trip to Partners. As added protection, he placed a band-aid on each heel. Better safe than sorry. They surely were beautiful boots. He admired them in his and Lee’s full-length bedroom mirror, twisting and turning to catch the whole effect. Hand-tooled black leather, they fit perfectly and looked great. So did the black cords he wore, the ones that molded themselves to his ass.  In one ear, a silver hoop glittered.

Roy had met them at the house. They were all going in Lee’s sedan, as having the most comfortable ride. Roy had teased Marshall about his new black Western-style shirt. “Aren’t you fancy?” He ran his fingers along the silver piping that contrasted with the darkness of the shirt. “Are those real pearl?” He indicated the snaps.

“Yep. Got this last time we were in San Antone. Like it?”

“Sure do. You’re lookin’ real fine.” Roy flashed him a grin. “Betcha the guys line up to be your dance partner.”

 “Betcha you’re right,” Marshall agreed.

Lee rolled his eyes. “Don’t encourage the boy, you’ll give him a swell head.” Lee swatted Marshall's ass when he bent to climb in the car, and Marshall warmed to his touch.  After Roy hopped in the back and Lee slid behind the wheel, Marshall added, “You don’t look half bad yourself.” But the open admiration in his eyes was a closer indicator of just how hot he thought Lee really looked.

Partners was pretty well hopping, but then again it was Western night. Wall-to-wall men of all sizes, shapes, and colors made for an interesting landscape. A large number of them were stuffed into the game room, and their triumphant cries and moans of defeat punctuated their activities.

The dance floor was awhirl with bodies in motion, gyrating energetically to the throbbing rhythms that thump-thumped through the mega speakers situated strategically throughout the club. Marshall’s feet were begging to be taken in that direction, but he curbed his enthusiasm and followed behind Lee as he threaded his way through the club in his quest for a table, telling himself it wouldn’t be long now, Roy bringing up the rear.

On Western night, servers wore wrangler jeans, boots, cowboy hats, and leather vests that revealed bare skin beneath, with scintillating glimpses of nipples calculated to make a horny man’s mouth fairly water with desire. These guys gave new meaning to the phrase “ride’em cowboy”.

Marshall almost ran into Lee when he stopped without warning, grabbing his hips, as he felt Roy bump into him from behind. One of the cowboy servers stood before them, a tall slender blond with hair that fell Rapunzel-like down his chest. His cowboy hat was studded with rhinestones and purple feathers.

“Hey sexy, looking for a table?” the server purred. “I think I might be able to squeeze you in.”

Marshall noticed the server’s eyes weren’t exactly looking Lee in the face, and it didn’t take a mind-reader to guess just what he was scoping out in that southerly direction his glance had just taken.

“You do that,” Lee drawled. “I’d be much obliged.”

“Walk this way, sugah.” The blond batted his fake eyelashes, before turning and sashaying away with mincing steps, Lee close behind. Marshall threw one hand backward, into the air, and swung his hips in an exaggerated copy of the server’s gait. Roy guffawed, even as he poked Marshall in the back and told him to behave himself or he’d tell Lee.

True to his word, the server managed to find them a four-top that had a decent view of the dance floor, and wasn’t situated too close to the speakers. There were two seats on either side. Lee chose one side, Roy sat on the other, but when Marshall tried to claim his spot beside Lee, the server blocked his way, leaning in toward Lee in a confidential manner, under the pretense of making himself heard. “What would you like this evening?” he asked, his voice filled with a whole lot of innuendo.

Lee ordered three drafts and three shots. If he was aware of the blatant invitation behind the blond’s words, he gave no indication of it. Once the server had gone to fill their order, a disgruntled Marshall took his seat, scooting his chair a tad closer to Lee’s. Lee arched a brow but said nothing.

Roy was scoping out the dance floor, but he didn’t seem to find what he was looking for. “The evening’s young,” he commented. “Maybe later, when the line dancing begins. That seems to bring the ladies to their feet, especially the unattached ones.” He drummed his fingers on the tabletop, in sync with the music, his big body swaying back and forth.

A shadow fell across the table. Marshall glanced up, prepared to defend his territory against the predatory waiter. But this was a brunet, early thirties, neatly trimmed goatee, tight black T-shirt, and form-fitting leather pants.

“Want to dance?” There was no mistaking this man’s intentions; his focus was clearly on Marshall. Not uncommon when they came to Partners. Marshall drew his fair share of attention, even though he did nothing—at least in his eyes—to warrant it.

He and Lee had an agreement—Marshall was free to dance with anyone, provided he received permission. And with the strict understanding nothing else would occur, there or anywhere else. Not that Marshall wanted anything or anyone else, but those were the rules, and he followed them. It wasn’t that Lee couldn’t keep up with Marshall. It was more a matter of giving Marshall his own space, Lee called it. A question of trust.

Marshall automatically glanced at Lee.

“With your father’s permission, of course,” the man added.

Marshall snickered, just before Lee pulled him close and laid a liplock on him that took his breath away.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Matthias Williamson   ****FLASH VIRGIN****



Monday, August 25, 2014

Virtual Book Tour: Designs on You

Please welcome author Carrie Pack, who is here to discuss her latest release, Designs on You. She is also going to answer my infamous Rick Reed questions, and I've reviewed her book, so look for my review. Carrie will be awarding a $25 Barnes and Noble GC, via Rafflecopter,  to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To see the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the rafflecopter at the end of this post.

DESIGNS ON YOU. Full Moon Dreaming Blog

The Questions
1)      You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?
This is going to sound so cliché, but I’d pick my husband. He’s really resourceful and can make me laugh. He’s also really good under pressure. I think I could be stuck anywhere with him and not go crazy. For our item, I’d make sure we had a fire starter. What can I say? I’m practical… And we watch a lot of Naked and Afraid.
2)      Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?
Thoroughly Modern Millie — it’s really just a story about a girl trying to make it on her own, but then things get crazy. Plus it makes me laugh. I’d want to be Millie, though, because if your life is going to be a musical, you might as well be the lead. Plus, I have a new life rule that if you can be played by Julie Andrews, you should always pick that character.
3)      Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them:  night, union, minute
As the last minute slipped away and night closed in around them, a loud cry arose from the back of the room. “Strike!” the man yelled. Murmurs of agreement began to fill the room as the union leader struck his gavel on the table, trying to quiet the noise. But no one would listen; it was too late. By the time the sun rose, their fate would be sealed. Without the support of the propulsion union, the Humans would lose the election to the Nemetians, and they would be stranded on this planet, 6 million light years from Earth.
4)      You’ve just been let loose in the world of fiction, with permission to make love to anyone you want. Who do you choose and why?
The only thing coming to my mind right now is Jon Snow, but I think that’s largely to do with the huge crush I have on Kit Harrington, rather than George R.R. Martin’s writing skills. Is that cheating?
5)      What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?
I like simple things: going out to dinner or staying home and watching a movie, but one of our favorite things to do is going to Disney World. One of the perks of living in Florida.
6)      When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?
I almost always begin with plot. It may not be much of one, but it’s at least a loose idea. Designs on You was like that. “What if a bored graphic designer falls in love with a model?” The characters always come later. It took me a while to develop Scott, but I knew what his journey was going to be right away.
7)      If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?
People tell me I look a lot like Jennifer Morrison. I think she’d make a great Hollywood version of me. She’s much more glamorous than me.
8)      Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?
I’m not much of a horror person, mostly because I am a HUGE chicken when it comes to scary books and movies. But I can tell you the one that scared me the most: Pennywise from Stephen King’s It. I still have nightmares about that book and movie.
9)      Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?
The entirety of NASA’s Apollo program. I am obsessed with every detail from the physics behind it all to the guys who worked mission control to the astronauts themselves. I think I’ve read every book written on the subject. If you mean an actual moony-eyed crush, does a young Harrison Ford count as historical?
10)  Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?
I have stories to tell that I’m not sure I’m ready to write, but that’s not really the same thing, is it? For me, part of writing is talking about things that maybe the world isn’t ready for. Think about some of the most profound books in history—To Kill a Mockingbird, Beloved, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World—they’ve all been banned at some point. You could argue the world wasn’t ready for those, but they are also considered great works of literature. I think the point of creativity is to talk about things that make us a bit uncomfortable. So I would still tell my story, even if the world wasn’t ready.  



Designs on You
by Carrie Pack

~~~~~~~~~~~~~





BLURB:

If graphic designer Scott Parker has to design one more cupcake company logo, he might lose it. So when he is tasked with retouching photos for a big fashion client, a stunning, lanky model mesmerizes Scott and occupies his fantasies long after the assignment is finished.

When the model is assigned to one of Scott’s projects, Scott discovers that the object of his desire is nothing like what he imagined. Despite Jamie Donovan’s aloof and dismissive behavior, Scott struggles to forge a friendship with him, all the while trying to keep his attraction at bay.

Will Jamie follow through on signals that he may be interested, or will he forever be the beautiful man in the photograph, an untouchable fantasy?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:


“Jamie, just make sure you maintain eye contact with the camera,” Scott says. “Direct it all at the lens.” What he means is, take all that anger, desire, passion, frustration, whatever it is that is holding him back, whatever he’s feeling, and channel it into his work. Let it go. He lowers his voice and leans in so only Jamie can hear him. “Direct it all at me if you have to.”

Jamie seems to understand because he nods, his eyes fixed on Scott’s as his breathing picks up, and if it weren’t for the camera and all the lights between them, Scott would swear they’re back outside that bathroom, suspended in the second before Jamie kissed him. Then Jamie locks his gaze on the camera lens three feet from his face, determination apparent in the set of his jaw, and a hushed anticipation settles over them. Jamie blinks twice and relaxes into the posture that Scott instantly recognizes as his model’s stance; he’s ready to go.

Scott smiles and ducks behind the camera, using the viewfinder rather than the digital display. There’s an intimacy in it, seeing Jamie through the focused view of the lens, and Scott is awestruck. It’s like seeing Jamie for the first time, all of his emotions raw and his soul laid bare—and it’s nothing like the pictures Scott used to get off to. This is Jamie the person, the one who is Scott’s friend, not Jamie the model or the insane erotic fantasy that Scott had created around him. In that moment of realization, the shock of Jamie’s beauty shoots through Scott like fireworks—a sharp point of light that erupts into a shower of sparks in his chest. He holds his breath and snaps the shutter. Zach had left it on a rapid-fire setting, so he shoots about ten frames at once, catching the subtle changes in Jamie’s expression.

He glances down at the display; even at only three inches wide, he can tell the shots are what they’re looking for. Scott lifts the camera back up and smiles. “All right, Jamie, let’s try that again, and this time I want you to really take a risk. Try something new and don’t hold back.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A former graphic artist, Carrie Pack turned to her early career experience as the backdrop for her first novel. She lives in Florida with her husband, where she teaches advertising writing at a local college.

http://www.carriepackchowske.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mscarriepack

https://twitter.com/carriepack


http://store.interludepress.com/collections/frontpage/products/designs-on-you-by-carrie-pack






 And now my review:

Designs on You
Author: Carrie Pack
Publisher: Interlude Press
American release date: August 16, 2014
Format/Genre/Length: Novel/M/M Contemporary Romance/178 pages
Overall Personal Rating:


Scott Parker has a job many gay men would envy—he gets to look at pictures of gorgeous male models for his agency. The current campaign he’s working on is for One West—a major client. Yvonne complains to Scott that the model, Jamie, is too short for the client’s picky taste, but she hired him anyway, because he is drop-dead gorgeous. Tired of looking at cupcakes, Scott offers to touch up Yvonne’s photos, which she’s all for.

Scott finds Jamie Donovan to be perfect—at least in looks. Scott decides he’s finally ready to dive back into the dating pool, as he tells his straight roommate, Ben. But he doesn’t do anything about actually getting a date.

When Yvonne comes down with the flu, Scott is sent to handle the One West shoot, which brings him face to face with the model he’s been fantasizing about. He’s been warned that Jamie is bitchy, and he discovers that’s true. But Scott finds himself drawn to him anyway. There’s just something about him. When Scott tries to tell Jamie he just wants to be his friends, Jamie doesn’t believe him. Even so, he’s sending mixed signals and driving Scott crazy trying to get past the shell he’s erected around himself.

This is a very sweet, very romantic story. Scott is obsessed with the beautiful model, and his actions at first are almost stalkerish. Plus he is insecure about the ten years that divides them. His quest to reach the inner Jamie is the bulk of the story. We don’t get a real feel for Jamie. I think he could have been fleshed out more. Giving him a POV would have helped, I think. Without that, sometimes I wondered what Scott saw in him, other than the obvious.

My biggest criticism is the author’s use of 1st person present tense to tell the story. I have no problem with this POV, and write in it myself. In this case, though, it didn’t feel right and didn’t give the immediacy I think the author was going for. It distracted more than it illuminated.


That being said, this is a sweet romantic story, which I think will please its readers.

Enter to win a $25 Barnes and Noble GC and more! A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Friday, August 22, 2014

Virtual Book Tour: Dissonance

Please welcome fellow Dreamspinner author Shira Anthony, who is here to discuss her new release, Dissonance.

INTERVIEW

Question 1
Which authors do you consider to be your biggest literary influences?

I grew up on a steady diet of sci fi and fantasy stories, so I guess it’s no surprise that my biggest influences were writers in those genres. More than any other writer, Marion Zimmer Bradley’s stories (especially her Darkover Series, which featured the first gay relationship I’d ever read) have stayed with me. They’re rich in descriptions, usually include some sort of romantic plot line, but are also great adventure stories. Those books are the inspiration for my Mermen of Ea Series, as well as the soon to be published Blood Series.
Question 2
Who do you consider to be the greatest literary characters of all time, and why?

The “why” is easier than the “who” for me. I could probably rattle off some names few people would know, but the names wouldn’t really matter. What does matter is the reasons I think they’re great characters: they’re complex and imperfect. Those are the characters I love to write myself. I love reading characters who grow and change. In romance, I love to read stories of growth because of love or, in some cases, in spite of it.
Question 3
Where do you think the line between erotic and erotica lies, and when does erotica cross over into porn?

Labels are always problematic, because half the time people can’t agree on what a particular label means. I write what I consider to be “erotic” romance. To me, that means romance with explicit sex scenes. Erotica, to me at least, is sex with plot, but not a full-blown romance with fully-drawn characters. Porn is sex without much story.

All of these labels, all of these genres, have their place. In my opinion, all of them are valid expressions of our very human need for physical intimacy.
Question 4
How do you feel about fanfiction based on your books? Do you know of any?

No, I’m not aware of any fanfiction based on my work, although I’d be flattered if someone wanted to write any. I did, however, get to “meet” two of my characters from the Mermen of Ea Series on Facebook! It seems that two European fans of the series decided to do a little roleplaying and created Facebook profiles with those characters (Ian Dunaidh and Taren Laxley). I thought it was pretty damn cool!
Question 5
Do you feel the world of publishing has changed since you first began writing – for better or for worse, and why do you think so?

I think it has changed, although I’m not sure if I can say it’s better or worse. There are certainly  are a lot more people writing in the MM/gay romance genre, which makes it more challenging to find new readers, but at the same time, the MM genre is now breaking through some of the old “traditional romance” barriers, and people who hadn’t heard of MM before are now reading it. E-readers are now here to stay, which is great for authors, since we can now reach people we weren’t able to reach before. Change is a given and it’s a constant. I guess that’s part of change. It’s inevitable, and it usually brings both challenges and benefits.




Book Name: Dissonance
Author Name: Shira Anthony
Author Bio: In her last incarnation, Shira was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas as “Tosca,” “i 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 36’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.
Author Links:
Twitter: @WriterShira
Cover Artist: Catt Ford
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Blurb(s):
British lord Cameron Sherrington has hit rock bottom. The love of his life, opera sensation Aiden Lind, is marrying another man, and Cam knows it’s his own fault for pushing Aiden away. Then someone tries to set him up and take away his family business. Facing arrest by US authorities on charges of money laundering and with no money to return to London, Cam decides to run. But with no money and no place to stay, it’s not exactly the Hollywood thriller he’d imagined.
When Cam hears Galen Rusk play in a lonely subway station, he’s intrigued. But his assumptions about Galen are all wrong, and their unusual relationship isn’t exactly what Cam bargained for. Add to that the nightmares that dog him nightly, and Cam’s world is shaken to its core. Cam figures he had it coming to him, that it’s all penance due on a life lived without honesty. He just never figured he might not be able to survive it.
Note: Blue Notes Series novels are standalone stories, and can be read in any order.



Excerpt:
Cam climbed the stairs of the Spring Street station. The wind had picked up, causing one of his curls to tumble onto his forehead. He sighed as he pushed the hair from his eyes and cursed his mother for her genes. They were too much alike, and not just in appearance. They were both wanderers. Always seeking excitement. Prone to infidelity. But whereas she seemed to revel in her freedom, he’d always sought partners. Not that he’d had any success in keeping them.
He thought of the trumpet player in the subway station. For a moment he’d felt something. He played well. Surprisingly well, really. Had it been more than that? Something beyond the music?
Of course it was more than that. He was attractive. Cam laughed and shook his head to himself. What did it matter? There were plenty of men in New York, and the last thing he needed was a downtrodden fuck.


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