Congratulations go to Debby! She's the winner in the recent bash to celebrate 70k with Michael Mandrake. Contact me and let me know what you'd like, Debby. In the meantime, I'm going to repeat the blog posts regarding the WIP of M.A. Church and myself, in case you didn't get to see them - a little story that we've named Be My Alien. You'll meet our heroes, Reed and Taz. Have fun with them! And stay tuned - we might have an announcement to make any day now!
Thanks so much, Sharita, for having us here today! We love
visiting with you, even if Chicago is chillier than we’re used to. Poor M.A.,
her blood is really thin from being down there in Mississippi. Me? I just have
low tolerance for the cold. Oh wait, who are we, I can hear some of you ask?
Let me back up a mo and start again.
I’m Julie Lynn Hayes, she’s M.A. Church, heretofore to be
known as Michelle. Just call me Julie. We’re here today to talk about our first
joint project. To be honest, it isn’t published. Not yet. But we’re excited
about it, so we’d like to tell you about it. And since it hasn’t been accepted
yet, we’d like to offer something else in our giveaways, namely a selection
from our backlists.
Let’s start at the beginning. I totally blame Michelle for
hooking me on aliens.
Michelle: *snort* I corrupted her, or so she says.
Julie: *laughs*
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. It wasn’t until I read your most
excellent book, Nighttime Wishes, that I first encountered your fixation on beings
from other worlds, and… wait, hold on a second. What are you two doing here?
Reed: Don’t blame me, I was just following Taz. He said we
needed to come here, and I guess he’s right. Look, you’re talking about us.
That’s a bit cheeky, don’t you think?
Julie: What? Cheeky? Hey, Reed, I was going to say nice
things, how does that make us cheeky? Michelle, a little help here?
Michelle: Oh no, don’t drag me into this. Besides, I think
you’re doing just fine on your own, Julie.
Julie: Gee, thanks. *sneaks a peek at these two lovely men* Wow,
what gorgeous guys we’ve created, I have to admit.
Taz: Reed, I appreciate these two humans and their efforts
to talk about us, but I feel that we can handle this ourselves, don’t you?
Reed: Indeed I do. So why don’t you two ladies find
something else to do? Maybe go to a strip club or something?
Julie: *look at Michelle, and she shrugs *
Michelle: Well, if they screw this up, it’s on them. I say
we go look at pretty men. You’re driving, though.
Julie: *walks out door mumbling under her breath* Don’t I
always?
Michelle: *pokes Julie in the back* But you like driving. Am
I going to have to listen to this all the way to Atlanta next year???
Purses are grabbed and a door slams shuts.
Reed: *whispers* Good
Lord, are they gone?
Taz: *looks around the corner* Yes, thank the stars. I
swear, those two… So… *Taz rubs his hands together, a gleam in his eye* Looks
like we got free rein now. You ready to start?”
Reed: Yes, more than ready. They’ve gone about things the
wrong way. Did you even hear mention of the title?
Taz: No, not a word.
Reed: *shakes his head* Women!
Taz: *cocks his head and regards Reed* My mother is a woman,
Reed.
Reed: *snorts* I know, I met her, remember? So’s mine, by
the way, and thanks for asking…
Taz: But I didn’t ask?
Reed: *sighs* It’s just an expression. *mumbles under his
breath* Damn, need to get that book. Bad. Hey, babe, where do you think we
should start?
Taz: How about like this? *he climbs onto Reed’s lap and
lays his head on Reed’s shoulder, purring*
Reed: Oh damn, seriously? *takes a deep breath* I thought
we’re here to talk? You know, about us?
Taz: *purrs louder* Go ahead and talk. I can hear you.
*begins to rock in Reed’s lap*
Reed: Oh jeez louise, that’s distracting… *clears throat*
Um, okay… we met… we met… oh yeah, it was almost Valentine’s Day. I was working
late ‘cause I didn’t have anything better to do. You know how it is when you’re
single and it’s been a while… that day means less than nothing.
Taz: It didn’t mean anything to me either.
Reed: Well, to be fair, you never heard of it ‘til you got
here.
Taz: Oh yeah, I guess that’s true. *squirms a bit on Reed’s lap* I’m just lucky
I was in the right place at the right time.
Reed: I think I’m the lucky one, babe. That’s what they call
karma.
Taz: Karma? What has this to do with driving?
Reed: *groans* Later, I’ll explain later. So anyway, I had
to meet a customer at the Empire State Building after work, and that’s where I
met Taz. He knocked me off my feet, literally.
Taz: What can I say, you caught my attention? My night
hadn’t been going very well. I had just been dumped, then I saw you. I really
didn’t mean to knock you down, you know.
Reed: Oh, I wasn’t complaining. I ended up on the floor with
an arm full of sexy male. *blush* Well, at the time I thought I had an arm full
of sexy male. Little did I know just what I was holding.
Taz: *giggle* You should’ve seen the look on your face the
first time my stripes showed up! I mean, you freaked out, but still, for a
second there… I don’t have the words!
Reed: *shakes head* It was probably the same kind of shocked
look I had when that tail of yours put in an appearance.
Taz: *rubs cheek against Reed’s jaw* That reminds me, when
are you going to let me—
Reed: Whoa now. Let’s not go there, babe. You give
that away, Julie and Michelle will both want to skin you. It’ll be a race to
see which one of them gets you.
Taz: Silly women. Neither one of them gets me. I’m
all yours… *licks his way up Reed’s neck*
Reed: All mine, you’re right. Um, um…. Oh yeah, the
title. Be My Alien. Pretty cute, don’t you think?
Taz: Mmhmmm, you’re very cute.
Reed: Not me, the title *blushes*
Taz: Oh, that’s not bad. Those two earth women seem
to be able to put words together rather nicely, don’t they?
Reed: Better than me at times. Oh babe, you gotta
quit that, or I might…
Taz: I’m wearing those special—
Reed: Oh lord, from the shop? *groans* Oh yes, my
shop. I have my own business, I should mention that. A Touch of Class. Here in
New York. I mean there… I mean… Taz, please be careful, you’re right over my—
Taz: I know, Reed…
I know… *silences him with a kiss*
End of part one, to be continued…
Hey y’all, and welcome back for part 2 of Taz and Reed’s
interview. My name is M.A. Church, but call me Michelle. Julie Lynn Hayes and I
are writing a series of books that start with our novella Be My Alien. We’ve
subbed the book and are just waiting to hear something. *fingers crossed* We
plan for the rest of the series to be novel length.
So, when we left last time, Taz and Reed were… what? *looks
at Sharita* Oh my God, they did what?
Are you kidding me? Oh man, Sharita, I’m sorry! I knew Julie and I shouldn’t
have… huh?
Julie: Damn, we missed it. I bet nothing we saw was as hot
as them two.
Michelle: *grins at both Sharita and Julie* So you got to
see the stripes, Sharita? *snort* Yeah, I know.
Hehehe. Love me some sexy aliens. And oh, look who finally decided to
show up. Hey boys, come on in. We were just
talking about y’all.
Reed: *looks at Taz* Michelle has that look in her eye.
Taz: So does Julie. *whispers* Do you think they know?
Reed: *shrug* So what if they do?
Taz: You’re right, let them know. I think they know
everything about us as it is, don’t they?
Reed: They know stuff about us you wouldn’t believe… *shakes
his head*
Taz: *coughs discreetly* Maybe they should go to another
strip show? Take her with them? *points at Sharita*
Michelle: *glances at both Sharita and Julie* I think we can
take a hint, can’t we, ladies? C’mon. Oh wait. *turns back* First round’s on
you. *holds out her hand*
Taz: *turns to Reed* I don’t see anything on you?
Reed: *grumbles as he reaches for his wallet* Later, babe.
*hands them a few bills* Stuff some g-strings for us, willya?
Julie: You got it, tiger.
Taz: Wait, he’s not—
Reed: Let it go, babe, just let it go. Wave bye-bye to the
nice ladies.
Taz: *waves even as he climbs back onto Reed’s lap* Now
where were we?
Reed: Talking to the readers. That’s where we were.
Remember?
Taz: Oh yes. We told them how we met. Did we tell them about
ourselves though?
Reed: What do you mean?
Taz: Well, I’m from the planet Trygos, the most important
planet in the Trygos galaxy, and only one of two planets capable of sustaining
life. The other planet is Haatmiess. When Trygosheans put someone down, they
say they’re like a Haatmiess, which is considered a major insult. My full name
is Fabrintazo, Taz for short. I’m about 5'11" in your earth measuresments,
and I have a wiry, muscular build. My hair is a mixture of red and orange and
brown and it’s long and luxurious, and reaches below my shoulders.
Reed: That’s very true. He often twists it into a braid and
lets it flow loose over his back. He’s very acrobatic and he loves heights. Which
scared the hell out of me at one point in the book. Taz has cat green eyes and
purrs when he's pleased. *smiles* I make him purr often.
Taz: Yes, you do. Reed’s full name is Reed Hatcher and
he’s about my height and build. He has very light brown hair that tends to
bleach out in the warmer months and he has the most beautiful hazel eyes. Oh!
And he has this cute little dimple in his cheek too. The one on his face,
not the other one. Though that’s cute too.
Reed: *blushes* Babe, too much information.
Taz: *grins* And he’s
a business owner, too. A very important man in his world. *nods head* And in his business, he has a back
room that sells very special things. I like the back room.
Reed: I actually have a degree in elementary education, but I
never taught. My parents moved to Florida and I ended up here in New York.
Taz: Thank the stars you did! *frowns* Should we tell them
about Vorlod?
Reed: What’s to tell? The bastard’s no longer here on Earth
and can’t bother you anymore.
Taz: Well, he was the reason I was here on Earth to begin
with.
Reed: We should save that story, though, don’t you think? Can’t spill all the beans, now can
we?
Taz: *glances around the floor* I don’t think we spilled
anything.
Reed: *rolls his eyes* You’re right, we didn’t. What was I
thinking?
Taz: *eyes him suspiciously* Are you having fun with me?
Reed: Not yet, babe, but I intend to, I promise you. Should
we leave or wait for the ladies to get back.
Taz: That depends. Are we going to make love?
Reed: You betcha.
Taz: *grins even broader, stripes appearing on his neck*
Then let’s go now and, how did you put it, avoid the rush hour?
Reed: *tries not to laugh* Close enough. *fastens their lips
together, he rises, Taz clinging to him, and they make their way from the room.
Moments later, the ladies return*
Michelle: Oh shoot, they’re gone.
Sharita: Where do you think they went?
Julie: *laughs* I can guess, I buet you can too, eh,
Michelle?
Michelle: *laughs too* Three guesses, and the first two
don’t count. I swear, keeping those two suppiied in lube…
Julie: Is a full time job.
Michelle: Oh well, I guess we’re done here now, right?
*waves* Bye, everyone!
