Tease Me Thursday #20: Revelations

Friday's almost here, can't  you just feel that weekend acoming? So let's get in the mood now with some teasing on Thursday! Authors who want to showcase their WIP's or their published works - all are welcome. Enjoy!

Today I bring you a little snippet from Revelations, my m/m alternate history, where there has been a Second Coming - and more - and Judas is in love with Jesus. In this scene, Judas is watching the Apostles play - the band that is fronted by Jesus, and made up of his disciples, when he is unexpectedly accosted. It is told in Judas' POV.  Enjoy!

At this point in the proceedings, I prefer to remain to myself, simply observing, making sure everything runs smoothly. And let’s face it, when Jesus isn’t on the stage, my attention is not going to be held. An honest observation, nothing more.

            Let the music begin.

            For once, surprisingly, they’ve chosen to open with something that doesn’t blast, snatch, induce nausea, or demand attention. In fact, it’s really rather sweet, and compelling, and I notice more than a few people are swaying on their feet, a simple back and forth repetitive motion, in time to the melody. I admit I’m swaying a bit myself, for the moment relaxing my attention from those around me.

            Until I hear a throaty voice whispering directly into my ear, a warm arm wrapping itself securely about my waist.

            “Judas, you pretty thing, when will you allow me to fuck your delectable body and show you what true ecstasy is?”

            Ladies and gentlemen—the devil does not wear Prada. He prefers Armani, if the truth be told. And here he is behind me now, pressed up against me with a raging erection—not that I haven’t felt that before, many times—and he’s whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

            And it’s taking all my self-control not to elbow him in his gut.

available at Amazon, ARe and MuseitUP.

Tease Me Thursday #3: Revelations

Hello and welcome to Tease Me Thursday!

Today, I'm going to give you a little taste of Revelations, which is my alternate history m/m romance story about Judas & Jesus.

Enjoy!

Today's excerpt is from Jesus' POV. He and Judas have argued, and Jesus is upset and confused.

            Judas, why do you have to be so difficult? Why can’t you simply be happy with what we have? Why do you have to be this way?

            Sometimes I don’t understand that man. I admit it—he confuses me. I’m not perfect, although I do strive to perfection. I’ve a long, long way to go before I get there, and I realize it.  I’ve so very much to learn.

            Judas, why cannot you love Mary, love everyone? You seem so very…angry. I wish I knew how to please you, to bring a smile to your face. Your very lovely face. I try my best, and sometimes I do succeed. But not nearly often enough.

            Tell me what to do, tell me how you feel, really feel…

            Father, I’m so very confused. Why does Judas confuse me like no other? What am I supposed to do here, how can I make things right between us when he isn’t even speaking to me?

            I understand that being your son comes with grave responsibilities. But you’ve counseled me that I’m also a man, like other men. Is this where the confusion arises, from these feelings I don’t understand? Please send me some sort of sign, tell me what to do, how to feel. How to deal with my feelings.

            Father, please counsel me. I know this is a selfish request, when so many others are in need of you, but perhaps a moment of your time? A father/son thing?

Available in ebook and paperback at Amazon and MuseitUp Publishing.

My Sexy Saturday #7: Revelations

This week's selection comes from Revelations. I just received some promo for GRL and I'm excited! In this scene, Judas and Jesus are having a discussion/argument. Well, Judas is arguing, anyway lol  Enjoy!

“Judas.” His eyes are so incredibly large and dark and they’re looking right through me.  Sorrowfully. Reproachfully. “Must you do that?”

            “I must,” I say stubbornly, although it pains me to see that particular expression upon his face, even more knowing I am the cause of it. “She only makes things more difficult for us—for you—and I cannot bear it!”

            “We have bigger issues than Mary,” he reminds me, cupping my cheek in one slender hand, locking his eyes upon mine. Ka-thump, ka-thump! Has a big bass drum begun beating nearby, or is that the very audible sound of my heart which is about to explode?

            “But, Jesus…” I begin to protest, even as he places one finger upon my lips.

            “You’re angry with her because she offered herself to me,” he says matter-of-factly. It doesn’t help to know he’s right, of course. Not that it’s the only reason I’ve no respect for Mary Magdalene—that is but one reason among many.  But it’s the hardest to overcome, especially right this minute when I am coming within an ace of profaning him myself with my unworthy body. O Jesus, do you know what effect you have upon me? Of course you do. You know everything. “Sssh, sssh, don’t be angry for that, you know nothing happened, surely you realize that? It’s all right, my little one, everything shall be all right, try not to get worried…”

            Try not to get worried. How often have I heard her use those same words, as she attempts to touch him, to soothe his brow, to muscle her way into our midst? The wench is much bolder now than she was when we began, I’ll grant her that. She wastes our money on baubles and trinkets and other such foolishness. And when I protest I’m told not to worry, not to speak to her like that. Jesus says he’ll handle her, but what does that actually mean? She invariably ends up going her own way, doing what seems to come most naturally to her, regardless of what anyone says. I’d much rather be done with her this time. She plays no useful part in this story, so why not let her go? Yet for some reason he clings to her, despite my best advice, and that’s what’s tearing me apart. And which shall be our ruination. Again.

            My hand snakes out toward him, toward his spectacular tanned body, his toned ass. I want to touch him in the worst possible way, or is that the best? His eyes never blink, he never flinches—is it my imagination or has he forgotten to breathe as well? For a heart stopping moment the world recedes, and there is only he and I. There is only us and we. And we are good, good to go, we are good, good together, we are…

Blurb:

Judas has never been very popular, not in any incarnation that he and Jesus and the others have lived through. But he doesn't care about that. All he cares about is following the instructions of God as set forth in the script that they follow. And Jesus. For Judas has secretly loved the son of God for over two thousand years.

But now he decides that enough is enough, and he's tired of watching Jesus die far too early, and for what? This time Judas is determined to see that Jesus lives a long and happy life, no matter what price he has to pay to accomplish it...no matter if he has to make a deal with the devil himself.

Revelations is a story of what could be, told by those who play it out, time after time after time, unbeknownst to the rest of mankind.  They've come back again, for yet another round.  But this time is going to be different.

Celebration time - Revelations is here!

This day has long been waited for, and anxiously, by a number of people, including myself and my friends and loyal readers.And now it's here! Revelations is a happening thing! Today is release day and it's time to party. Like it's 1999 or 1699 or even 99 BC!

Revelations is available here!

This book has been more than forty years in the making. No I didn't spend that long writing it. It took a great deal of thought. I know I've told this story on other blogs, but I'm going to tell it here, so make yourselves at home!

The idea was born many years ago. Over forty, actually. When I was a teenager. Back then, it didn’t have a name, and it had no real shape. But I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to tell the story of Judas Iscariot. The trouble was I didn’t know how.

What drew me to Judas, is probably what you’re asking yourself, and that’s a valid question. Ask anyone else who Judas is and you’ll get answers that are probably all variations on a theme of betrayal. I’m not sure exactly when I began to question that, but I do know that when I saw Jesus Christ Superstar performed live back in 1971 (or thereabouts), I had an epiphany regarding him. I saw him, not as the bad guy as often portrayed, but someone who not only believed in Jesus but was willing to do what he needed him to do. For without Judas’ “betrayal” of Jesus, the story would not have worked out the way it did. It needed to happen that way. And if you read the Gospel of Judas, he was the only apostle who trusted Jesus enough to do that for him. Gives one food for thought, doesn’t it?

Very interesting, but where’s the story, I wondered. Was I going to take an historical perspective, research the man and his life? Easier said than done, especially back then. We had no Internet. We didn’t even have computers. Research was all done through books. Libraries had card catalogs, a far cry from today when you can log onto your library website and browse their selection, then request what you want. So I looked and I found bupkus (nothing). I had the Bible, of course, but it tends to be limited on information, as well as a bit biased.

So nothing was written, and I let it go, as my thoughts formulated in the back of my head. In the meantime, I was reading, watching… and learning. King of Kings was my first Biblical movie, and I loved it. Jeffrey Hunter’s portrayal of Jesus is very moving, and I was very enamored of the film. Jesus Christ Superstar – I think I know all the words, I’ve listened so many times. I liked the stage version, but the first film not so much.

Besides watching these things and others, I read. Christopher Moore’s Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal. What a fabulous book! I loved it! So much I bought the special edition. And I read The Gospel of Judas! Forty years ago I’d never heard of such a thing. Of course I read the DaVinci Code, and watched the movie. And everything began to percolate inside my head…

Then one day it happened. Judas spoke to me, for the first time. And I simply began to write it down, not knowing what he might say, or where his story might lead. It turned out to be quite the story and took me on quite the journey, and led to places that I didn’t expect it to. If he’d have spoken forty years ago, I would not have been ready to receive his message. But my life up until the moment that I first heard him speak prepared me. And the result is Revelations.

The original title was Kyrie Eleison, a tribute to the Mister Mr. song, Kyrie. Kyrie eleison means Christ, have mercy on us. But then fellow author Marie Sexton, who was reading Kyrie for me at the time, suggested a simpler title. A better title. Revelations. So Revelations it became.

I know there are people who will not like Revelations, and by extension, me. People who will not see the message it carries, only that it does not follow what they believe. But ultimately, no matter what you believe, Revelations is a story of love. Love is the message, and love is something that binds us all together.

Revelations is love.

I'd like to celebrate Revelations release with you. Oh, I almost forgot! I have a book trailer:  

I hope you like it! I'd like to giveaway a copy of Revelations to someone! All I ask is that you comment, and tell me what you think about the book, or anything related to Revelations. And don't forget your email address!

Also, as part of my celebration, I'm guesting at two blogs:  Chris T. Kat and Marie Sexton. Stop by and say hello!

I'll announce the winner in a week. And I haven't forgotten the Backlist Bloghop. I'll be announcing that soon too!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie