Friskbiskit

Guest Post: Tara Lain

Today the wonderful Tara Lain is with us to celbrate the release of her new book, Golden Dancer. Always a delight to have you here, Tara. 

Tara's giving a book away to a lucky commenter so please leave a message. And don't miss the tantalyzing excerpt from Golden Dancer below.

It’s my delight to be back visiting Jessica at Friskbiskit. As you may know, I write the Beautiful Boys of Romance, and since I was last here, my beautiful guys have increased.

Who are the beautiful boys? You’ll recognize them when you see them. They are larger-than-life, often too beautiful to be believed, sometimes alpha but generally a bit more on the beta male side. I thought I might introduce you to a few of them both old and new. 

 

 

•    Every girl remembers her first love and that’s how I feel about Roan Black, one of the heroes of Genetic Attraction, The Scientist and the Supermodel, and a featured player in Deceptive Attraction coming November 1. Roan is extraordinarily gorgeous, gentle, wise, and has a special tattoo. Many of my readers are in love with him. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•    David Underwood may be beautiful and a bit flamboyant but he knows what he wants and what he doesn’t want. David stars in Volley Balls where he poses in the nude as, who else, Michelangelo’s David.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•    Golden Dancer, my new release, has three fantastic  men but the “beautiful boy” is definitely Trelain Medveyev, my ballet dancer. Half Russian and half British, Trelain is all fire and ice, passion and reserve. Half man and half boy, he is cool and loving by turns.

 

 

 

 

 

•    The sequel to Genetic Attraction, Deceptive Attraction stars the brother of my scientist, Jake Martin, young Caleb Martin, the soccer star. But the Tara Lain beautiful boy in the book is really Elijah Dante, so pretty he looks like a girl -- from the neck up. Complicated, haunted,  and flawed, Eli still captures a lot of hearts.

 

 

 

 

Now let me tell you how to win a copy of Golden Dancer or Volley Balls and meet the beautiful boys inside. Just leave a comment here. You’ll be entered in the drawing on October 8. If you’d like to be entered in 2 drawings, go over to Beautiful Boys Books and leave a comment. There are a lot more ways to earn entries, so check out the blog and read all the details.

And here's an enticing excerpt from Golden Dancer!

Excerpt R: Golden Dancer by Tara Lain, M/M/M Romantic Suspense

Available from Loose Id

A reporter and the thief he’s investigating fall for a golden dancer forging a ménage of love and lies that could send one to prison and one to the morgue. Uncovering secrets requires baring more than just the soul.

The big man led him through the crowd with a strong hand. Trelain glanced back to see Allison’s face looking both confused and concerned. She clearly didn’t want to lose control of her donor-bait, but lose control she had. Daniel seemed to be quite certain where he was leading them.

When they reached the other end of the big open space, Trelain pulled back. The guy was much bigger, but Trelain was strong. “Hold up. Where do you think we’re going?”

The man turned and gave Trelain that wolfish grin again. Close up, he really was lovely with those deep, dark eyes, and dark curving brows contrasted with the shock of silver hair. “I thought I’d rescue you.”

Trelain smiled. “And I thought I was getting champagne.”

The man stared at him for a moment then looked up and waggled a finger seemingly into space. Moments later, a waiter appeared out of the crowd carrying a tray packed with bubbly. The man grinned. “Would you like it all?”

Trelain smiled back. Daniel seemed a man who got what he wanted. But then, so was Trelain. He selected a full glass from the tray. “One should be sufficient.”

The man took another one, though he didn’t seem to drink it. “But more is better.”

The waiter left, and Trelain took a sip. “Your philosophy of life, I presume?”

“Totally.”

“So who are you, Daniel?” Trelain noticed that people milled all around them, but no one interfered.

“A child of the universe. A lover of art in its myriad forms. A surfer and diver. Oh, yes, and I dabble in computer software sometimes.”

Trelain glanced at him sideways. “Dabble? Like Bill Gates?”

The guy gave a huge smile. “Yes, precisely like that.”

No doubt richer than Croesus, based on the deference everyone seemed to show him. “So, what exactly does ‘rescuing me’ look like?”

“If you’ll let me, I’ll take you to my home in Laguna Beach. Sun, surf, relaxation.”

“Mr. uh…”

“Terrebone. Daniel.”

“Are you propositioning me?”

The man leaned down so his lips were close to Trelain’s ear. His breath smelled like peppermint. “I am propositioning you at every level, cavalier. You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on two feet, and I want you near me. Preferably under me for hours at a time.”

Bloody hell. Trelain smoothed a hand down his arm to try and control the goose bumps.

The man chuckled. “I think that sounds good to you.”

A little distance was required. Trelain stepped back. “You are more than persuasive, uh, Daniel, but you also impress me as a man who is used to getting what he wants. Perhaps I don’t enjoy being one of a multitude.” Yes, he was being flirtatious, but it was also true. Maybe part of the appeal of the reporter had been that he wasn’t usually attracted to men. Trelain liked being special. Hell, who didn’t?

Daniel very discreetly ran his fingers up Trelain’s arm. Good. He wasn’t trying to make a show of possession. “It’s true, my friend, that I have had many brief encounters in my past. I don’t think you know anything about me; why would you? But others will delight in telling you of my peccadilloes, so I might as well come clean. That was the past, however. I have not been in a relationship of any kind for many months. I am weary of the game. I want someone special in my life, and you, my friend, are very special.”

Trelain smiled. His thoughts had been answered. He opened his mouth to speak, but Terrebone put up a hand. “One more thing. I won’t rush you or crowd you. I would love to have you come to my home as a guest with no strings attached.”

Trelain cleared his throat. “I am dancing three nights this week, and I believe Laguna Beach is some distance from here.”

“About an hour. But you are free on Thursday, I believe?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you pack your bathing suit” -- he gave that charming, lecherous grin -- “or not, and I’ll send a car for you after your performance. I’ll have a massage therapist standing by, my chef will prepare all your favorite foods, and you can have a quiet vacation for a few days.”

Suddenly, Trelain was too tired for banter. A vacation sounded like heaven, and if it was with this beautiful man, all the better. He might have a thing for that silly reporter, but it was a stupid, fruitless crush. This man was handsome, rich, and seemed sincere. And he knew he was gay. A huge improvement. “I would love to come.”

Daniel looked surprised, then delighted. “You are a world of surprises, cavalier. I like that in a man.”

Trelain sipped the last of his champagne and glanced at the still-milling crowd of patrons. He sighed. “And now I must continue my role as money-grubber-in-chief.” He bowed slightly. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Oh, one more thing. Please give this to Allison.” Terrebone handed him a scrap of paper. It said IOU $1,000,000.

“Fucking hell.”

“Not enough? I just wanted Allison to know I hadn’t been wasting your precious time.”

Trelain carefully folded the paper. He laughed all the way back to the group of donors surrounding the anxious program director.

---------------------------------------------------

Thanks again to Jessica and to all of you for coming by to say hello. :)

You're welcome Tara, great to see you!

Find out more about Tara and all her friends on her blog, or follow her on Twitter or Facebook!

Guest Post: Out the Window and into the Woods with Kay Berrisford

Please welcome Kay Berrsford, whose first book, Bound for the Forest, just came out this month. Kay has some great words of writing wisdom for us, which I think will be familiar to any of you who have been students of mine. She and I definitely share the same philosophy.

CONTEST! Leave a comment with your email addy and you'll be entered to win a free copy of Bound for the Forest.

I’m a real newbie to this game.  My first novel, ‘Bound for the Forest,’ an m/m fantasy romance, was released by Loose Id this month.  ‘Bound’ was the second manuscript I ever the sent to a publisher.  The first, an m/f Regency romance, offered to a major print publisher, was received back with a polite ‘thanks but no thanks’ at the end of last year.

I was disheartened, but my friends told me to stop trying to write what I believed publishers wanted and write instead what I wanted to read. So I did, throwing all notions of ever getting published out of my window. (They were pretty small notions. As I live in a ground floor flat, I scarcely heard the ‘bump’ when they landed.)

The result was ‘Bound,’ and it’s definitely my book.   I tossed in all my favorite ingredients – m/m romance, sexy ex-soldiers, forest realms with faerie magic, al fresco sex, and a liberal dose of BDSM.  The tree-shifters and orgiastic Wild Men took me by surprise, but writing is always most fun when the story takes on a life of its own. So I let everything unleash. Even the bondage with magic ivy.

With ‘Bound for the Forest,’ I did my publisher research after I’d completed, seeking places where my book might fit rather than molding my writing to spec.  And, at least for me, it worked! I’m very grateful that Loose Id gave my story a home, and now my job is to persuade you all to share in my strange and sexy imaginings. Oh, and yell at all you great and aspiring writers out there exactly what my friends told me: write your book.

Thank you so much to Jessica Freely for letting me blog here today.  It’s a real honor!

You are so welcome, Kay. It's been a pleasure. And thank you for sharing an excerpt from Bound with us!

Bound for the Forest is available now from Loose Id.

Blurb: Ex-soldier Brien forces Scarlet, a sexy young thief, to lead him into a forest realm of magic, sex, bondage and blood. Can they discover their true feelings for each other before the forest spirits enslave them both?

Excerpt:

Scarlet slammed his fist onto the counter, knuckles clenched white. The jars clinked out a warning, and the captain closed in at Scarlet’s side. Brien touched Scarlet’s shoulder; despite himself, Scarlet felt his anger wane a little. He screwed his eyes tight. Brien’s heavy breath rustled the hair on his brow.
 
“Listen, Scarlet. I’ll tell you what you are. I’ve known it for some time now.”
 
He shuddered only slightly as Brien’s thumb traced the line of his cheekbone. “When…when you first saw me, you told me I was a pixie. But you meant that…as something dirty.”
 
“Maybe I did back then, but I don’t think so anymore. You’re a beautiful man, and you’re strong too.”
 
Brien’s hand slipped down to cup his face, and Scarlet’s eyes flew wide. He closed his fingers on top of Brien’s, but he could not bring himself to push him away. It had to be that natural draw between them that Arya had told him about, and damn it, Brien’s touch sent a flash of fire through his veins. “I’m not strong,” he stuttered. “I’m not like you.”

“I never said you were like me,” whispered Brien. “But you are strong. You fight hard, you’re as stubborn as steel, and it’s not magic that makes you so damned irresistible.”
 
“Irresistible? But…but I thought you wanted Urhelda?”
 
“No. You know as well as I that there is nothing between me and that girl that can ever compare to this.”
 
With that, if nothing else, Scarlet could not bring himself to argue. Brien’s breath scorched against his lips, his large frame cocooning tighter about Scarlet’s by the heartbeat. He could feel his body surrendering—and, so much worse, his mind. He wanted this so badly.
 
“The spirits…are real.” Scarlet’s voice sounded strained. “How can you even question it? It is everything in this forest—and this thing between us. It’s…it’s the reason it’s so hard for me to fight this.”
 
“This is called attraction, Scarlet. This is about the pleasure of another person’s company, and about simply wanting to be together. This…is what’s real.”
 
Brien grasped him by the shoulders and shook him gently. Scarlet’s lips were already parted in a silent gasp when Brien plunged forward to claim them. The touch of his mouth was even more exhilarating than Scarlet recalled, his overpowering flavor spiced by the gin. Scarlet felt his senses lurch as he raised himself onto his toes, parting his lips wider and inviting Brien to intensify the kiss. Coarse stubble scraped his chin, and he dug his fingers into those broad, flexing shoulders. Yes, this is what they came here for.

For more info on Kay and her writing, visit her website or follow her on Twitter!

Author Spotlight: Angela Plowman

 

Please Join me in welcoming the delightful Angela Plowman, here to talk about her first novel. A regency paranormal with a young shapshifter who passes himself off as a catamite in order to get close to the man of his dreams. It's delish!

A Wolf in the Fold is available now from Loose Id.

 Here's a blurb:

When dissolute romantic Henry Garrett enjoys a hot night of illicit sex with a hired whore he thinks it will end there. What he does not expect is for his one-night stand to follow him home and turn his life upside down, leading him down a path of self discovery with consequences quite beyond his wildest romantic imaginings.

Gabriel is wild, sexy, knows what he wants and is not afraid to bend over to get it but he could be more of a danger than even Henry thinks. Because there is something dangerous in the woods of Garrett Hall, and it just could be that Henry’s wild lover is a threat to more than his lifestyle. Sado-masochism may not be the only secret pretty Gabriel was hiding.

Angie is giving away a free e-copy of A Wolf in the Fold here today. To enter to win, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address.

And Don't miss the excerpt at the bottom of the post. But first, here's an interview where Angie bares all. Ooooh!

Why do you write? 

I have no idea. 

Because I have to.  Because I am breathing.  I have never  not written.

What do you like to read?

Classical literature – English, Chinese, or American; m/m; and Yaoi manga.

What is your most embarrassing experience as an author? 

I am still waiting for it – I am sure it will happen soon.  I am a wonder for putting my foot in it. It’s an almost pathological condition for me.  I sometimes think I am not quite from the same planet as everyone else – so I am bund to embarrass myself to total death any day now.

I did once think I had accidentally emailed a Frodo/Aragorn story to my father-in-law. 

OMG!

As they say – “To err is human, but to really foul up takes a computer”.  I hadn’t but for a while there I was planning how I could get into the witness protection scheme or if I should just kill myself on the spot.

What is your favourite guilty pleasure?

Yaoi.  I am such a perv.  Katrina Stauss of ‘Blue Ruin’ fame pointed me in the direction of Manga.  It took me a while to get it.  For quite a while I have had a thing for oriental cultures and for m/m.  Then I realised the two could combine. 

Do they say anything worth having is wroth working for?  Well, it took me a while to figure out the appeal of fandom slash – and then I was all for it, especially “Wiseguy” and then “Lord of the Rings”.  Then it took me a while to figure out m/m fiction on LooseID – and I was such a goner.  Then it took me a while to figure out Manga Yaoi – now I have quite the collection.  I just had to pay for excess baggage coming back from New York with a suitcase full of the stuff.I love the stories with humour to them – and if they have hot sex too then I am perfectly happy.  If you can have Yaoi set in a 19^th century English country house then I guess that is what “Wolf at the Door” is.  A cross between Yaoi, Emily Bronte and Saki.  Now there is a ghastly image.  My sister did suggest I call the book “Buggering Heights.”

That's a great title. What was one of your favourite books as a kid?

“The Hobbit”.  Heck – still is one of my favourite books.

Funny, I just reread it for the first time in years. It is charmingly written. I love how he handled the omniscient viewpoint.

But we digress. Back you your interview, young lady.

Now, why do you think m/m is so popular? *Folds arms, taps foot and looks stern.*

Cause we are a monumental bunch of pervs? (Good answer!) Because there are no boring descriptions of female bits?  As a friend said “I have those parts myself, I want to play with different ones.”  Lovely yummy male bits whereever you look.

And do you now write, or have you ever written, fanfic?  If so, what fandoms, pairings, etc?

Could that most embarrassing thing as a writer be about to happen?  I can hardly believe some of the rubbish I have written.  “Airwolf”, “Battlestar Galactica.”  I really hope that stuff has vanished without a trace by now in the world of zines – ahh, those pre-internet days?  Most recently it was “Lord of the Rings.”  One hundred and sixty Frodo centered short stories to be exact.  That was a busy 6 years, but we had so much fun.  And I do have to blame the hobbit for leading me to LooseID.  I followed the furry feet of a fellow fan fiction writer and ended up in a world weirder than Middle Earth and a lot hotter than the flames of Mount Doom.

What is your proudest moment as an author?

Maybe it comes along with the most embarrassing moment.  You see, I did tell my parents I had an eBook accepted for publication (just not what sort of eBook).  My dad was very chuffed.  So chuffed, he has been telling everyone about it.  We went on holiday together at the beginning of this year and I found out one night he had told half the blasted boat about it.  On one hand, that is so great – my dad being proud of me; on the other hand, what if he ever found out exactly what I have written?  I think I would go up in a puff of smoke. 

So far I have got away with it by telling my parents it is a romance and so they need not bother to read it as I know it would not interest them.  Neither of them read much now-a-days so I may have got away with it.

Actually – yes, my proudest moment as an author was when dad edited a fantasy story for me and put a post it note on it saying “good story”.  I think that was the first time my dad had ever praised me.

What kind of impact do you hope your work will have on readers?

I hope they like my characters and find them attractive and interesting.  Hey, I hope it gets them all hot and bothered – and gives them a laugh.  I have no idea if the humour will translate.  Brits have an odd sense of humour.  I could not write anything like this without my tongue being firmly in my cheek – but will that have come over? 

I hope people will enjoy it and maybe love Gabriel a little.  He is my 19^th century twink and I am totally in love with him myself.  He’s sensual and gorgeous, passionate and sensitive.  He knows what he wants and is not afraid to go for it.  I just hope he comes over the way I want him to.  He is teasing and naughty but also totally devoted to his Master.  To me he seems so alive.

He seems very alive to me in the excerpt. I had an immediate sense of who he was and I wanted to know more about him.

I will let you in on a little secret no one else knows.  Until he men Henry my Gabriel was a virgin.  That hot night in the inn was his first time.  He fell in love with Henry at first spank.

Kirk, or Spock? 

Easy one that.  Kirk until the end of time and beyond.

Click below for a luscious excerpt from Angela's Buggering Heights A Wolf in the Fold.

Please note, by clicking the link below, you certify that you are eighteen years of age or older, and that it is legal for you to view sexually explicit material.

Author Spotlight: S. Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore

This month I have two awesome authors that taste great together! Uh... Write great together? Yeah, let's go with that. Please welcome S. Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore, co-authors of The Slipstream Con, an m/m/f menage availabe now from Samhain Publishing.

Blurb for The Slipstream Con:

Is love the biggest con of them all?

A Ylendrian Empire story.

For three years, Kellen Frey has led bounty hunters Tal and Vanya on a merry chase, evading capture with flair and style. Now, just when they finally have their pet project—and object of their mutual fantasies—cornered, the elusive con artist turns the tables and gives himself up. A sudden attack of conscience, perhaps? Tal and Vanya know better.

Their suspicions are confirmed when a crime lord comes dangerously close to killing them all, and the rapidly sickening thief is forced to confess the truth—he’s been accidentally dosed with a highly illegal form of nanotechnology.

If Kellen can’t get his hands on another dose, he’s finished. The problem is, the only thief who’s ever broken in to Slipstream Labs is his ex-girlfriend, and she’s allergic to bounty hunters. As he does his best to play both sides, he struggles with his growing desire to be more than a prisoner to Tal and Vanya. Without trust, they won’t survive long. The clock is ticking as they race to uncover a conspiracy that spans the Ylendrian Empire.

Don't miss the excerpt from The Slipstream Con at the bottom of the post. But first, let's find out a bit more about Michelle and Reesa.

Tell us about your recent publication.

Michelle: The Slipstream Con is most definitely a scifi romance.  It’s also a scifi caper story (think “White Collar” or “Oceans 11” in space).  And last but certainly not least, it’s a ménage story.  Apparently a very unusual ménage story in that it’s sweet and all three characters are equal partners.  Well, and it’s not x-rated.  Readers have shared with us that they like this, and that makes me happy.

Oh, the hub and I love White Collar! And I don't know if I've ever heard of a sweet menage story. Way to work the market, ladies!

My favorite reader quote: 

This was my first ménage book, and I was a little leery at first. I go crazy for the "always and forever" kind of romance, so I wasn't too sure how I'd like the emotional side of love being split three ways. But the attraction between Frey, Tal and Vanya was so instantaneous -- so REAL -- that it drew me in right away.

Nice!

What gave you the idea for this story?

M: I think this was a case where the story and the characters developed simultaneously.  Usually I’m a character-first person, so it’s really cool when the characters show up with a plot in tow!  That saves a lot of time, since I'm not sitting around thinking "Oh, wow, these are some awesome kick-ass characters.  Um… what should they do?"  Tal and Vanya showed up with their own agenda, and goodness knows Kellen had his.  The fact that they all collided was sheer perfection. 

How did you start writing?

M: I started writing stories as soon as I learned to read.  The thought of being able to create people and worlds fascinated me then, and the glow has never faded.  My aunt still has copies of stories my cousin and I wrote during a car trip to Florida when we were five.

So even then you were collaborating. Very interesting... (That last bit was in an Austrian accent, and I was wearing glasses, scribbling in a notebook, and smoking a cigar, in case you missed it.)

Thank goodness for Reesa, though!  We’ve been writing together for well over 15 years, and I’m not sure I would’ve ever finished anything I was happy with without her.  We started out by role playing characters we’d created, and our writing styles meshed so perfectly that it was only a matter of time before we started creating stories for a wider audience.  The realization that other people wanted to read what we loved writing is one that still makes me incredibly happy.

How wonderful!

If you could change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be?

M: Promoting!  I HATE it.  It’s stressful and I end up getting so tense and anxious over it that I start doubting my writing ability, and end up sitting staring into space with my brain all jellified.  It’s not pretty.  I want to write.  I don’t want to waste creativity and time thinking up marketing schemes that I’m not qualified for.  I doubt I have the skills to sell candy to small children, much less likely my books (however much I love and believe in them) to a potentially indifferent public.  I keep hoping the publisher will do that.  Or maybe my mom… 

Ah, but you're here now, and doing a great job. :)

Who is your favorite character, and why?

Reesa:  Of our own characters, I'd have to go for Kellen Frey at the moment.  He's slick, but not as slick as he thinks he is.  He's handsome, but… well, okay, he probably is as handsome as he thinks he is.  He's got charm to spare, but it's tempered with sarcasm and a bit of an absurdist streak.  Throw in the quick wit and a faulty moral compass, and I'm sold. 

Picking a favourite out of someone else's cast, I think I'd go with Captain Malcolm Reynolds.  For a lot of the same reasons, but also because he rocked a pretty floral bonnet, and understood that family could be created, not just born into.

Do you now write, or have you ever written, fanfic?  If so, what fandoms, pairings, etc?

R:  I've read in fandoms too varied and expansive to list.  My current main fandoms are Pysch (Shawn/Lassiter, Shawn/Gus, or gen), White Collar (Neal/Peter/Elizabeth, or really, anything the fandom throws at me), Merlin (Merlin/Arthur), and my recurring love for due South, Supernatural, and Harry Potter.  I've written for due South, Supernatural, Harry Potter, Firefly, Psych, Buffy, Shelter (movie), the X-Files, and Smokey and the Bandit. (Yes, you read that right.)  I love fandom, and (on its good days) the sense of community and support it provides.  There are things I don't like about it, too, but my 17 years in fandom have been mainly positive, and not only made me the person I am today, but a better person than the one I would have been without it.

I've been dipping into the White Collar fanfic myself recently. Yummy. And I agree that the community is very supportive of its writers. Pretty awesome, really.

What kind of impact do you hope your work will have on readers?

R:  We've now had two readers tell us that they stayed up past their bedtimes because they couldn't put our books down.  That was absolutely one of my goals as a writer, and I'm chuffed to be told about it. 

Author C.B. Potts once asked for people to tell her what story meant to them.  The best answer I could think of was that story was more than what happens between the first line and "the end."  Story, to me, is all the unexplored little broken bits that come before and after, and shape the narrative you're writing.  I guess my hope is that a reader will walk away from our writing with more than just the book they read - that the story before and after will intrigue them and stay with them, too.  In a way, it ties in with the question about fandom.  I think a lot of fans like to explore the places between the story they've been given, and the one they can envision before or after it.  I hope that we've left them those places, and created that desire to explore with us.

Terrific interview, Michelle and Reesa. Thank you! 

Excerpt - The Slipstream Con by S. Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore
He froze, eyes slamming closed, but not fast enough for Vanya to miss the flash of pain. Impossible to tell if it was physical or mental distress, especially when he hunched over, pulling his knees up to his chin, face buried. “Would it be possible to continue this conversation a little later? I’m not—” A ragged breath interrupted whatever he was going to say.

When Frey didn’t continue, Vanya frowned, fingers trailing across the lock pad indecisively. There was a reason it had taken as long as it had for them to run him down—the man had conned the best. She’d also spent a lot of years trusting her instincts, and right now they weren’t flashing any warning signs. Transferring the tool kit to her other hand, she keyed in the code, slipped through the door and waited for it to close behind her before she stepped over to the bed.

“Please go away, Vanya. Please.” There was little left of the cultured voice, replaced by rough desperation.

Vanya sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.” It wasn’t a good idea to be reaching down and brushing a hand through Frey’s hair either, but there she was, doing it anyway.

His skin was hot under her fingertips, hotter still against her palm when he turned his face into her hand with a small, inarticulate sound. “Go. Away.” In direct contrast to his words, he was leaning into her, his weight almost pushing her off balance.

“You’re sending me really mixed signals here.” She let him rest his head against her hip, feeling the heat through her clothes. “On the one hand, Tal was right, the sick-prisoner bit has to be the oldest con in the books. On the other, that doesn’t seem like a fake fever, and we’re not so far from the station that we can’t turn around and get you medical care.”

“No.” Hands shaking, he used her leg for leverage, fingers slipping along the curve of her thigh as he pushed himself back against the wall. “If you want your bounty, the last place you should set foot on again is that station.” He laughed, forcing himself to sit upright, and she admired the fact that he could maintain even this level of composure. “Damn it, Vanya, you’re not stupid. Why the hell are you in here with a prisoner, unarmed? You have no idea what I’ve got, and you’re not in a contagion suit.”

“Did you just try to frisk me? Nice. I appreciate your concern for my safety. What you don’t have is any known communicable disease. The ship’s systems run a scan on all new passengers as they come aboard, and you’re not carrying anything it recognizes as contagious. So I’ll ask you the same thing Tal asked—is this withdrawal?”

“I don’t know what the fuck this is!” The explosion startled her, not for the vehemence so much as the language. Frey was known for his manners, and in all the years they’d spent building their construct of his life, not a single person had ever mentioned him being anything less than polished and elegant. Watching him fall apart was disarming, as she was sure he’d intended if he were trying to work the situation. As authentic as it seemed, he was that good, and she couldn’t discount the possibility.

“Poison? The scan wouldn’t have gotten that.” She folded her arms across her chest. The tool kit was still clutched in one hand, and his eyes tracked it for just a second too long. “Oh, now that’s just cold. She poisoned you?”

“She’s in over her head. She asked me to do her a favor, but I don’t think she knew—” The startled grunt of pain cut off any words, and if he was faking the way his pupils blew wide, he was better than anyone could have ever dreamed. She dropped the kit and fell to her knees next to the bed as he dwindled down into the mattress. Breathing only in rapid, shallow gasps, he looked terrified.

“Tal, get in here.” Trusting the ship to carry her message, she pulled out her notebook, already accessing the nav systems to turn them around to the station.

Frey’s hand fell across hers, and he shook his head, beyond words.

“You want to die? Neither of us is a medic, Frey.”

He still shook his head, and she was ready to pass it off as a seizure when his fingers landed on the screen of her notebook, and he froze.

Thundering footsteps pounded down the corridor, and Tal appeared outside the glass, fumbling the code once before he got the door open and came in, gun drawn and leveled on Frey.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. He’s not,” Vanya said.

Frey’s hand was locked around her notebook, and the lines in his face were smoothing out, the shudders fading little by little. Vanya attempted to pry his fingers loose, dropping both his hand and the computer when it proved akin to trying to yank something out of a vise. Tal pulled her back. The room smelled of burning plastic, and the screen of her notebook cracked under the pressure of Frey’s fingertips. He gave a final shudder, and the device fell to the floor, destroyed. His hand dangled open off the side of the bed, the fingertips as blistered as if they’d been scorched, and though his eyes were closed, his breathing had returned to something like normal.

“What the fuck just happened?” Tal echoed her own sentiments exactly. If she’d had even the slightest idea, she would have told him.

Author Spotlight: Tara Lain

Tara Lain was so delightful last month, I just had to have her back to celebrate her new release, Volley Balls, part of Etopia Press's Beach Bums series. Sounds like a perfect beach read, Tara!

Blurb: David Underwood needs to go to AA – Alpha-lovers Anonymous, but his ogling of two Australian volleyball players on Laguna Beach gets him harassed and terrified he might be in for a repeat of his previous abusive relationship. Australian, Gareth Marshall needs to come out. A lifetime of hiding his orientation from his best friend and volleyball partner, Edge, as well as everyone else around him, has left him hurt and frustrated. When Gareth gets a load of David posing nude as the Michelangelo statue in the famous Laguna Pageant of the Masters, he knows his hiding days are numbered. But Edge has his own secrets, and may just take them out on the two lovers. And David's ex-lover has some nasty plans of his own. With everything stacked against them, can a gay Laguna guy find happiness with an Aussie alpha male – or two?

Don't miss the excerpt from Volley Balls at the bottom of the post, but first, let's shine the spotlight on Tara:

Tell us about your recent publication.

My new novella, Volley Balls, is an M/M/M ménage that answers the question, “Can a gay guy from Laguna Beach find happiness with an Aussie alpha male … or two?” It started out to be a total froth of a summer romance, but I tend to get pretty deep into my characters so I found out that they had a lot of pain. One of them had been in an abusive relationship and the other had been hiding in the closet for his whole life. Consequently, some serious themes crept in. But the story is still fast-moving and fun, I think.

What gave you the idea for this story?

My friend, Selena Illyria, invited me to submit a story for the Beach Bums Anthology from Etopia Press. To lure me, she sent a drool-worthy video advertising Aussie Bum swim trunks. After watching it, I was no longer of sound mind and agreed to write this book in 30 days! My ace in the hole is I live at the beach and that was the theme that ties all the stories together. So I borrowed from my town. Laguna is an art colony, so my hero, David, owns a gallery and poses nude in the famous Pageant of the Masters art show. There’s also a great beach here where people play basketball and volleyball. I conceived of my very gay Laguna guy ogling the volleyball players and launched into Volley Balls.

Why do you write?

I was a writer, even as a young girl. Writing was the skill that got me through school and college because even when I was pulling an all-nighter (that was often, by the way) I could write well enough to express ideas clearly and get good grades. I never studied writing. It was just a part of me, like having green eyes or brown hair. After college, I started writing presentations for trade shows and industrial films, then went into advertising, all using my writing skills. But I never wrote a book because when you write all day it’s tough to write at night and on weekends too.  Then, a few years ago, I started reading EROM. It lit me up. For the first time I wanted to put my long-held fantasies on paper (computer actually). I conceived an idea for a book about an older woman and a younger man, both scientists. Then I read a male/male book and I was HOOKED! I wanted to add another man to the story. Genetic Attraction was born – my first book, a M/M/F ménage that was published this past January.

Who has inspired you, and how?

I sing their praises all the time – the great writers who have inspired me. That first male/male book was by Jet Mykles. It’s called Heaven and I still adore it. From Jet I learned the kind of heroes I wanted to write—beautiful, complex and a little over the top. Then I read Lynn Lorenz and added another layer of inspiration to the emotional depth of characterization I wanted to achieve. And then there’s ZAM. ZA Maxfield writes with a sassy, conversational style. Her language choices make me drool and I love her complicated characters often wrapped in elegantly simple stories. I read these writers before I ever wrote a line and they inspired me. Today, there are so many more I can’t begin to name them. We have some pretty cool writers in erotic romance.

What do you like about m/m?

I love the lack of gender roles in male/male. Since the relationship is undefined by society, my guys can relate to each other as they want to. I love wandering around inside a man’s head and heart. People say “don’t make them chicks with dicks” but I read an interview the other day with a young male model who was talking about his boyfriend. No woman could have been more heartfelt, emotional or sentimental in expression than this guy was. I love exploring that diversity. Showing the depth of feeling men experience trying to break out of the norms of expression expected of them. And I love men! Why not have three?  LOL

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

I love chai lattes from Starbucks, nice and cold at this time of year. I can drink one a day. And here’s a real blusher. When I am absolutely fried and can’t write another word (I write in my day job too) I sit in front of the TV and watch “Say Yes to the Dress” marathons. It has no redeeming social significance and it’s impossible to think while watching it. 

To what/whom do you credit your success?

I have to give a huge amount of credit to publisher, Loose Id, and my wonderful editor there.  I submitted my first book to them because they published all my favorite authors. I got an email back telling me the problems with the book and, disappointed, I replied to the editor who sent it thanking them so much and saying I hoped there would be a chance to work together in the future. I was too dumb and new to realize I’d gotten a revise and resubmit! She quickly emailed back saying “Wait! This is a good thing. Revise the manuscript and resubmit it.” Problem was, I had so little experience in fiction writing that I didn’t understand the notes. So I took myself back to school online in workshops on point-of-view and pacing and fiction style. The editor even slipped me a few essays on POV.  I worked hard on the book and resubmitted it. Yahoo! They accepted it in a week. And I have written four more books for them since, all of which have been accepted. Without that encouragement and guidance, I would never have learned what I needed to know to be a published writer.

And here's a yummy excerpt from Volley Balls. Enjoy!

“And then I completely reorganized the accounts payable reporting system and my supervisor was ecstatic. I mean it was a whole redo of the Excel, and she said you can’t have too many Excel shortcuts to suit her, and…”

David stifled his sigh, hoping that his blind date wouldn’t hear. He liked accounting, honest, but Mark had an enthusiasm for the subject that qualified as superhuman. And Rodney, the little turd, had sent his apologies for feeling “under the weather” and unable to join them. Probably became afflicted after spending five minutes listening to Mark extol the virtues of tax records.

Since Mark was now explaining his system by drawing on the white cloth table cover, David let his eyes steal around the restaurant and bar. He caught a glimpse of a very tall man with dark hair. Shit, was that… When he tried to see where the dark man had gone, there was nobody. Hell, he was shrinking from shadows since that guy had yelled at him yesterday.

“David?”

He looked back at Mark who now gazed at him with disappointed puppy eyes.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I got distracted because, frankly, I need a men’s room and couldn’t quite remember where the facilities are in this place.”

Mark looked a little mollified. He pointed toward the entrance by the bar. “I think it’s over there. Shall I order another round while you’re gone?”

If he had the balls of a mosquito he’d say ‘no, I have to leave,’ but he was a wuss. And he’d been kicked in the teeth so many times by guys that he couldn’t bear to do it to someone who was only trying to be nice. “Sure. That’d be great.”

Since he knew exactly where the men’s room was in this place, he walked straight toward it. He could stand to pee and he could stand a break from Excel spreadsheets. He went in, used the equipment, and washed up very slowly. The men’s room door opened and the bar’s music sounded louder.

David grabbed a hand towel, dried, and turned to leave.

Leaning against the wall by the door, blocking his exit, was “the friend.” The delicious, terrifying, dark-haired beach guy, sporting an inscrutable grin.

Holy shit.

David, half-scared and half-angry, demanded, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

The grin got wider showing off white teeth that David kind of wished were the better to eat him with.

What was he thinking?

“I followed you.”

“You what? Jesus, get away from me. Let me out of here.” But David couldn’t force his leaden legs to get out the damned door. In fact, he stepped back a couple feet.

The guy pushed off from the wall and started toward him.

David put up his hands. “You’re nuts. You can’t get away with beating up gay men in Laguna. This isn’t some Neanderthal country. You’ll get arrested, do you hear me?”

The guy paused and frowned. “Who said anything about beating you up?”

“How about your fucking friend?”

The guy started toward David again. Shit, when you didn’t want them there were six guys in line at the urinal. Now? Nobody.

“Hey, he’s not me. Understand?” It sounded like understend.

The guy reached him and David pressed back against the wall. Trapped. Maybe he could slip to the side. David turned his head, but rough, callused fingers touched his cheek, then began a slow, exploratory caress over his cheekbones. “So perfect.”

David gasped. What did the guy say? “What?” He turned only his eyes toward the Aussie and saw him gazing at David’s face like some painting in his gallery.

“I saw you last night. At that art thingy. I thought you were perfect. These cheekbones. That ass. God, I wanted you so bad.”

What? What the fuck? Of all the fucking nerve… David shoved off the wall, hands firmly planted on his hips. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re gay? Running around harassing innocent people with that band of delinquents, and you’re a closet fag? Give me a break!”

“No, mate, give me a break.” And the guy’s hand slipped around David’s head and pulled him straight into strong arms.

A seeking mouth closed over his lips and the first touch robbed him of air.

David would have sputtered if he could breathe. His hands came up to push the guy away, but shit, the Aussie was strong. Those big hands held him still, not hurting him, but not letting him go, and soft, oh-so-soft lips stroked back and forth against David’s closed mouth. Then he felt a gentle tongue teasing at the tight seam of his closed mouth.

He tried to push away, honest he did, but oh my God…He moaned. This shouldn’t feel so good. The guy was a poser, an identity thief. David couldn’t want a man like this. Not again. But he was hungry and those lips were a feast, a meal of luscious, delicious sweetness he hadn’t tasted is so-o-o long.

Maybe never. The tongue teased and pressed persuasively. Resist, resist…

Total surrender. David’s lips parted and that hot tongue pressed deep into his mouth. Every dormant cell flamed to life with heat and feeling, his cock leading the way. He couldn’t think. Too much smoke from the fire.

His hands slipped into that dark, silky mane as David fit his mouth more perfectly to the Aussie’s. That marauding tongue explored until it caressed David’s completely, teasing and dominating. A rough hand grabbed his butt and pulled him onto his tiptoes until his cock could fit beside the bigger man’s. Hard. Hot. They both went nuts, rubbing their cocks together. Oh shit, it felt good. He tasted so good. Pictures formed in David’s mind. Him dropping to his knees and sucking until the man’s eyes rolled up in his head. His body draped over the sink with the Aussie’s hot cock buried in his ass. Oh God, he wanted…

What the hell? What was he doing? Crap. No. No.

He ripped his mouth from the guy’s. The sheer unexpectedness of it gave David momentum to break away and take a few quick steps toward the door. “No, asshole. Get away from me. I do not do this. I don’t go with men who aren’t proud of who and what they are. Not anymore. Never again. Go back to your closet and play with your volleyballs.”

Guest Post: Tara Lain, Goddess of...

  Tara Lain never met a beautiful boy she didn’t love – at least on paper. A writer of erotic romance, mostly ménage and male/male, Tara loves all her characters, but especially her handsome heroes. A lifelong writer of serious non-fiction, Tara only fell in love with EROM in 2009 and, through perseverance and lots of workshops, had the first novel she ever wrote accepted for publication in 2010. She’s now on book six. After an exotic life of travel all over the world and work in television, education and advertising, Tara settled in Southern California with her soul-mate husband and opened her own small marketing business. She paints, collages, and started practicing yoga “way before it was fashionable”. Passionate about diversity, justice, inclusion and new ideas she says on her tombstone it will read, “Yes”.

Fascinating bio Tara. You live a rockstar life! So awesome! Welcome!

And I understand you're going to address a subject near and dear to all of our hearts. A topic that is only more relevant with every passing moment -- quite possibly, in fact, the only thing that can save the world from utter annihilation:

Boys Kissing Boys!

Take it away Tara!

A long time ago when the movie Philadelphia was being filmed someone asked Tom Hanks what it was like to kiss Antonio Banderas. The charming Hanks replied that now he knew what it felt like to be the envy of all the women and half the men in the world. Sigh. Watching two men kiss is a huge treat for more women than will probably admit it. And to celebrate the release of my new M/M novel The Scientist and the Supermodel which has some pretty yummy kisses in it, I want to share the pleasure of boys kissing boys.

 
Let's plunge right in. I adore androgynous men - not everyone's taste I know -but that makes me a big fan of the adorable Adam Lambert who has single-handedly upped the male/male kissing quotient of the world by a big percentage. This picture is from his world tour where every night he kissed his lead guitarist Tommy, reported to be straight but obviously unprotesting, much to the delight of his audiences. 

The popular television series Torchwood features some beautiful and touching love scenes involving the hero played by John Barrowman. I don't know the storyline but I sure do love these scenes. 

I've always been a big fan of the brilliant actor, Daniel Day Lewis. Have you ever seen the film he made early in his career called My Beautiful Laundrette? Even today, the scenes of Day Lewis as a gay street punk in love with a Pakistani boy hold up as models of truly steamy gay sex on film - and some lovely kissing.

And now to offer something for everyone. Do you like your boys young and pretty?

Athletically imaginative?

Or very, very wet?

Now, aren't you glad you came by the blog today? 

You know we all are, Tara. But listen, don't forget to tell us about your new book and the contest you're running in conjunction with your blazing summer blog tour.

  The Scientist and the Supermodel: Jake has a mad hidden passion for his older boss, Emmaline Silvay, so why is he getting all hot and bothered when he sees this gorgeous man in a bar? Though Jake thinks of himself as straight, he's been having a lot of trouble getting excited about any of the girls he's dated. He doesn't have any such trouble with the supermodel, which throws his whole world into confusion. Roan Black knows better than to fall for some straight guy, especially a PhD scientist who couldn't possibly be interested in a high school dropout, could he? Well, maybe they can just have sex ....

S&S Buy Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/The-Scientist-and-the-Supermodel.aspx

S and S Book Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0glXEW3_fM

Tara's sharing an excerpt with us today. Thank you Tara! I read it and it is smoking hot! Great dynamics between the men. And Tara really knows her way around a... uh... towel! That's it. TOWEL!

See, it pays to hang around with the right people. But don't just go scrolling down to the link immediately. Show a little self-restraint and find out how you can win a free copy first.

THE CONTEST!!! 8 BOOKS THIS MONTH! 4 Books Next Month.

Here's the first simple step:

Comment on this blog and leave your email address. I will copy it and enter it in the drawing for the 2 books being given away during this week.  One copy of The Scientist and the Supermodel and One copy of Genetic Attraction.  You'll be notified by email if you win. Comment and email, simple.

Here's MORE CHANCES TO WIN! (more complicated so read closely LOL)

Go to my Book blog http://beautifulboysbooks.blogspot.com. Leave a comment and follow the blog (if you already do follow, it counts). You will be entered in EVERY drawing until the end of the month. Two books will be given away every week and you'll be entered in all those drawings.

Go to every blog on my blog tour and leave a comment on the day of the post (or at least in the same week) and you will be entered again during the week in which the post is made.

The entire blog tour is listed on my website http://www.taralain.com/blog_tour_schedule.html and updates will be posted regularly so check it out. There will also be Yahoo Group chats where I will be giving away other books so watch for those!  

Whew!! Remember, you can take each one of these steps and have a bunch of chances to WIN! (You just have to enter, the logistics are my nightmare!  LOL) Got it? Leave a comment, and I hope you enjoy an excerpt from The Scientist and the Supermodel.

And now finally, Tara's smoking hot excerpt from The Scientist and the Supermodel: 

Warning: This excert is smoking hot.  You must be eighteen or older to view it. By clicking the link below you certify that you are eighteen and that it is legal for you to view this material.

Story Orgy!

Please welcome Hank Edwards, whose posting today about orgy stories Story Orgy, the Story Orgy anthology, and the Trevor Project.

Sometime in the chilly throes of January, five writers banded together to post stories on their blogs. This in itself is not unusual, but these writers who work together as a group call themselves The Story Orgy. Along with a sixth member, their “photographer,” Jade Baiser, who captures the theme or emotion of the week’s stories in images grabbed from the web, the Story Orgy -  JR Boyd, Lee Brazil, Hank Edwards, Havan Fellows, and Em Woods - deliver humorous, romantic, spooky, sexy stories every Monday morning….

*ahem* Yeah, that’s how this whole thing got going, folks…but how do
we do it? Ahh…that is the question….

We start with three prompt items selected from a batch of people, places,
and things. All three things must appear in some form or another in the
story. On Monday morning, as the birds are starting to wake, we post our
stories to each of our blogs and then share the links on Facebook and
Twitter. Each of us provides the links to the other blogs at the end of our
story, setting up a circle of creative energy for our readers.

Feedback is always encouraged, by comments either on Facebook or our
blogs, but the Story Orgy really wanted to involve our faithful readers. So
we came up with the idea for a contest: readers could submit prompt item
suggestions via email. The Story Orgy writers then reviewed the groups of
items with no names attached and each of us chose the items that … ah,
excited us, so to speak.

“And the Prompt Is … Volume One” is the result of this synergy
between us writers and you readers. The stories are all m/m with a splash

of sex thrown on for spice, and the result are these tales of humorous,
spooky, and yearning romance. Each winner whose prompt was chosen
received a free copy of the anthology complete with a personalized
dedication from his or her author.

As a special note, all profits from the first ninety days of sales for “And
the Prompt Is … Volume One” will be donated to the Trevor Project,
the leading national organization providing crisis and suicide prevention
services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ)
youth. The book can be found on Amazon at this time, but will expand to
other sites soon.

To become a Story Orgy enthusiast, Like our Facebook page at http:/
/www.facebook.com/SOGroup. We look forward to seeing you at our
Monday morning Story Orgies!

Story Blurbs:
“Picking Up Quinn,” by Em Woods
Liam watched from the corner of his eye as Quinn slid into sleep. His
knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly, but it
took everything in him to keep all the words and feelings from rushing
out. It never did any good, even when he couldn’t control himself.
Quinn always disappeared anyway.

“Finding Pleasure,” by JR Boyd
Sterling smiled as he watched the gentleman exit with his bag of chips.
He replied without thinking. “Please, sir. I’m long overdue to do the
Dew…and you too.”
Just about the time Sterling completed his statement, a clean-cut
businessman clothed in a complete Cavaricci suit walked in clearing his
throat. “Excuse me gentlemen. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Farewell,” by Havan Fellows
The tears flowed down his cheeks and he started the gibberish talk that
always happened when someone poured out their hearts, like in all those
movies that Riley and he stayed up late at night watching. “I can’t Riley…
I can’t do this without you. It’s too hard; living is too hard. Every breath I
take hurts me."

“The Old Soda Shop,” by Lee Brazil
Hardening his heart, Sam continued. “That’s just it, Matt. I don’t want to
be loved. I don’t want to love anyone. I just wanted to get laid a little. I
need freedom to pursue my dreams, and taking care of you, it’s a burden
I don’t want. I thought it was all just fun. You’re taking things way too
seriously. So, please, do us both a favor and leave before I get back
Monday afternoon?”

"With This Ring," by Hank Edwards
Dylan hesitated, watching the door slowly swing shut as Carl strode down
the entrance hall of the suite. What was Carl expecting from Dylan if he
followed him? And what if the guest who was staying in it came back? If
they were caught, he would lose his job, and the Ritz Carlton was where
he had always dreamed of working. Just before the door clicked shut,
Dylan reached out and stopped it.

And the Prompt is... Story Orgy Anthology on Amazon:
ebook/dp/B004ZZSVTS/ref=sr_1_6?
ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-
text&qid=1305083261&sr=1-6

Author Spotlight: Valentina Heart

 

Please join me in welcoming Valentina Heart to Friskbiskit's Author Spotlight. Valentina is a relatively new author, but she's busting out all over the place with four releases all within a few months of one another. Dreamspinner published her Eyes of an Innocent last September, and  Sebastian's Wolves in February. And her book Memories will be released by Silver Publishing on Mar. 12.

But today she's here to talk about Looking For Adventure, which came out from Loose Id on Valentines Day. Here's a blurb. Follow the link at the bottom of the post for a free excerpt from the book.

After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Jonathan looks back on his career-focused life and sees nothing but empty years behind him. His desire for success has left him without a single happy memory, and completely alone.

While shocked by the news, he stumbles into Nino: a man without a steady job, without a permanent home and, as happy as a person can be. On the spur of the moment they set off to an adventure by the sea, with good food, loads of sun, and rising attraction. Only both hide secrets from each other as they fight against the sparks that keep on lighting the flames.

They set out for some fun, but found the adventure of both of their lives...

 

And now, the interview:

Tell us about your recent publication.

Looking for Adventure is my longest published book so far. I would also dare to say it is the best. The idea didn't come from a movie or a book; it was a collection of experiences which I wanted to share with people who have never visited my country, Croatia.

I focused on the beauty of one of the islands here and modified my own memories to better fit the story. But the feeling I had when I spent my summer there was very real and I think I managed to give the characters as good a time as I had.

Imagine what it would be like to let go for one summer, forget about work, problems and all the other baggage we carry daily. And instead experience all those things you never even hoped you would. You have the sun, the sea and a gorgeous man by your side to stir your imagination to heights you never even knew it could go.

That is what this book is about; finding yourself even when you didn't know you were lost, and falling in love next to the whisper of the waves in the heat of summer.

What do you like about m/m?

When I first started reading m/m, I liked the sex best. It was something completely new and intriguing which made me squirm and look around the room even though I knew I was alone.

Now, I like the challenge. Almost every m/m relationship has to fight prejudice, self-conflicts and even violence. It keeps things interesting when compared to m/f romances where you have a lot less to work with. Contemporaries are my favorite but paranormal and fantasy make great refreshment.

Compared to the beginning, sex now has to be surprising, shocking or right down perverse to rock my boat. But that’s the way I like my books anyway, kinky to the bone. ;)

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Chocolates with liquor in them, because they are just too good to be true, and… kinky movies (but that’s all I’m saying about that one).

Was there a time when you almost gave up?  What made you keep going?

I almost gave up the second time Eyes of an Innocent got turned down. It was a rough time for me, because I’d had two more stories rejected around the same time, and Eyes of an Innocent was very dear to me. It was a kick that kept me from writing for a while and there were a lot of those ‘what was I thinking’ moments when I doubted every positive comment I’ve ever gotten about my stories.

There was also the language barrier. The early books are pretty raw; something I notice now when I read them, but couldn’t have recognized then. And I felt like a complete failure.

I allowed myself some time to feel like crap, but I guess I’m a stubborn Leo who always has something to prove. So I decided to send Eyes of an Innocent again until there were no more publishers around. ;) Thankfully, that wasn’t necessary because the next was Dreamspinner Press and they liked the story.

In those difficult moments, my biggest support was my friend Suzana and my boyfriend. They kept pushing and saying all the right things at the right time. Also, my friendship with Jade Archer helped. The two of us had started this thing together and look at us now. ;)

What was one of your favorite books as a kid?

Those were mostly Croatian authors, books that were never published in English. I’m not sure if 14 is young enough, but at that age I’d bought my copy of Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice. It was a softcover translated into Croatian and it blew my mind. This was not long after the war, when having a computer at home was only a vague notion and something I didn’t even think about. It was my first vampire book and ultimately the one that changed the direction of my interest when it came to reading. I still have that copy and it was read so many times the pages are falling out ;) But even today it is one of my favorites.

Who is your favorite character, and why?

I’m not sure if this is referring to my characters or those I’ve read about? In any case, it is something to think about.

I can’t say this is my final decision, but a character I’ve felt strongly about was Hsin Liu Vega (aka “Sin”) from Evenfall by Sonny & Ais. It’s a free read on their webpage and quite long.

Why him? He’s so tortured it breaks my heart. But on the other hand, very emotional and compassionate, despite all his training and the cruelty he was raised in. The world is always against Sin, but Sin can handle it and more. Even if I haven’t picked him for my favorite character, he would have been the coolest one. You see, Sin is tough, gorgeous, mysterious and above all deadly. There is just no one like him.

With my books, I like them all, but none of them really jump out. For now, I would have to pick one from the book I’ve just started writing, and unfortunately I can’t even give you a name because it’s not certain it will stay the same by the time I finish it.

What is your proudest moment as an author?

I don’t think I’ve had that one yet. It’s all a lot of disbelief and insecurity. A lot of those ‘people actually like what I’m writing’ moments that never get boring. I might have three published books and two soon to be, but honestly, it doesn’t feel as if I’m someone important, known, or even popular. I’m still just me.

Click below for an excerpt from Looking for Adventure.

Guest Post: Tara Lain on Digital Publising

Please join me in welcoming Tara Lain to Friskbiskit. Tara is a new author whose first book, Genetic Attraction, just came out from Loose Id last week. It's a steamy m/m/f about Dr. Emmaline Silvay, her much younger research partner Jake, and his boyfriend, the notorious male supermodel Roan Black. Oooh.

For more about Genetic Attraction, please visit the book page on Loose Id.

Digital Publishing: The Birthplace of New Writers

Jessica asked me to comment on some of the topics you all have been discussing here on the blog. When she mentioned technology and its impact on publishing, my first thought was that I was so new to fiction writing that I didn’t have an opinion yet. Then I realized that was dead wrong, because digital publishing is what has made it possible for me to be a published fiction writer.

You see, I write nonfiction for a living, and have published hundreds of magazine articles under other people’s names, as well as brochures, websites, white papers and such. When you write all day, it takes a real passion to get you to write some more in your spare time. My passion is passion! I love writing erotic romance, mostly m/m and ménage (m/m/f and m/m/m). While today’s supermarket romances are pretty darned steamy, they don’t really fall into the category of erotic romance, and none of them are male/male or female/female. If people like me want to write these subgenres, we’re not going to find a home in mainstream publishing. So, digital publishing by independent publishing houses has opened the world to a whole new group of writers, writers who wouldn’t have the time or the passion, perhaps, to write mainstream fiction. That would be me.

Digital publishing enables me to submit manuscripts directly to the publisher without having to have an agent.  It allows a publisher to take a chance on a new writer without the enormous investment required to develop a mainstream author.  It allows me to meet other authors, polish my craft, and get feedback, all online. And that’s not even mentioning the fact that we can research our books from an armchair with nary a plane ticket in sight.

And then there’s promotion. In today’s tight market, even mainstream authors have to promote their own books. For genre writers who can’t expect huge returns on their writing time, an investment in tons of travel isn’t feasible. So instead, we have online promotion. We have Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Yahoo groups, online reviewers, blog tours, author communities and workshops. Authors now have this huge wealth of promotional and educational opportunities to call on without ever leaving home.

I have a dear friend who is a very successful mainstream author. She has retired from writing, partly due to the pressures of the new digital world and the decline of mainstream publishing. So I know technology has had a negative impact on publishing for many people. But for us writers of very naughty books, it’s a huge boon.

How do you feel about digital publishing? Love it? Hate it? Share. 

 

Author Spotlight: Kathe Koja

It's with particular pleasure that I welcome Kathe Koja to Friskbiskit's Author Spotlight. Kathe and I have been friends for a long time. Back in the day, when I was a wet-behind-the-ears wannabe and she was a published author, Kathe was a generous and insightful mentor to me. Now I am proud to be her colleague.

When I found out that the new book she was writing included a romance between men, I immediately asked her to do an Author Spotlight. I've been hearing tantalyzing little snippets about Under the Poppy for some time, and now that it's out, I can't wait to read it. You should know that there is also an immersive theatrical production in the works, and be sure to check out the luscious book trailer.

BLURB:

Under the Poppy is the story of orphaned brother and sister Istvan and Decca and their childhood friend, Rupert, set in a Victorian-era brothel called Under the Poppy. The brothel is owned by Decca, who¹s in love with co-owner Rupert, who¹s in love with Istvan, who comes to town, louche puppet troupe in tow. Their desires clash against a backdrop of approaching war, as hearts are broken and lives are lost, and the townsmen seek refuge from it all by watching the floozies of the Poppy cavort with Istvan¹s naughty puppets

. . . It¹s a love story.

BUY LINK:

http://smallbeerpress.com/forthcoming/2010/05/06/under-the-poppy/

INTERVIEW:

1) Tell us about your recent publication.

Under the Poppy is a romance novel, a historical novel, a theatrical novel
of theatre: it's the love story of Istvan and Rupert, from their days as
busking street boy puppeteers to the risky world of highest society, through
war, separation, jealousy, and betrayal: sometimes apart, but never to be
parted.

Under the Poppy is literally hot off the presses as I write this, being
published by Small Beer Press, a well-respected publisher of fantasy and
literary fiction, founded by Kelly Link and Gavin Grant.  Small Beer Press
books have been chosen as best of the year by Booklist, Time Magazine,
Salon, Village Voice, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Locus, so my
gentlemen of the road are in very excellent company.  It's my first time
working with Gavin and Kelly, and it's been a wonderful ride.

2) What gave you the idea for this story?

I can never really point to the genesis of any of my novels, but I
absolutely remember a little yellow sticky note that read "les mecs", the
collective identity of Istvan's traveling puppets.  Once I had them, I had
him; and once I had him, I had Rupert. And away we go....Having that
partnership between them of theatre, of passionate performance, since their
very earliest days together, was a wonderful way to be able to explore their
intimate relationship as well.  We all wear masks for our lovers, we all
enact roles, but for these two, the masks are visible. And the stage is a
juicy arena for confrontation and desire, especially at a brothel!

This is also my longest novel ever - by far - and the chance to explore a
long, rich, conflicted relationship between these two men was a marvelous
challenge. We go through stages as we go through life, we change, we
regress, we struggle, and we hurt each other, even the one we love most in
the world. Love doesn't mean everything will always be all right, but it
does mean that the commitment, the daily passion, is always there. For a
writer, this is intensely fertile ground, and I tried to make the very best
of it that I could.

3) Who has inspired you, and how?

I'm always inspired by reading strong and original voices: Emily Bronte,
Arthur Rimbaud, Emily Dickinson, Flannery O'Connor, Christopher Marlowe,
Oscar Wilde; I consider them, if it's not too presumptuous to say so, as
literary patron saints. Reading and studying their work makes me know what's
possible, what heights fiction and poetry can reach, and I can't help but be
inspired to work harder every time out.

4) How did you start writing?

I moved from reading to writing at about age five; as soon as I knew what it
was, I wanted to do it. I didn't start trying to do it professionally until
my twenties, though, after attending the Clarion Workshop (then held at
Michigan State University, since moved on to UC San Diego). Clarion gave me
the confidence to actually get out there and market the work I was doing.
My first novel came out in 1991, and I've been lucky enough to work in all
sorts of genres, from SF to horror to YA to contemporary fiction, now to
historical romance, and even for the stage - I've adapted Under the Poppy
for an immersive theatrical production that will be staged in 2011 at the
Detroit Opera House, so now I'm a playwright, too! My work has allowed me to
dream enormous dreams, meet very cool people, travel, and stretch myself as
a reader as well as a writer - I'm really grateful to Clarion for putting me
on the path, and to Mom for putting those first books into my hands.

5) Was there a time when you almost gave up?  What made you keep going?

I wouldn't say give up - I could no more voluntarily give up writing than I
could give up breathing - but I've certainly had times of confusion and
discouragement throughout my career, times when I wondered why a book wasn't
going at all as I'd hoped and planned, or why a book I'd written hadn't
sold, or what the hell was going on with publishing anyway?! And every time,
what brought me back was love. I love so much what I do, what I attempt to
do every day - remake the world in words - that that pleasure and that
commitment is always strong and vital enough to overcome any momentary
despairs. And what love affair doesn't have its ups and downs, right?

6) If you could change one thing about the publishing industry, what would
it be?

I would like publishing as a whole to remember that it's a business based on
truthful fantasy and eternal ephemera, and then act accordingly.  We're not
selling tire gauges here, dudes; let's take some chances.

7) What have you always wished someone would ask you?  Now answer!

Would you like Emily Dickinson's private email address?  Yes! Oh hell yes I
would.

Thanks Kathe! Great having you here and all the best with the book.

Here's a link to an excerpt from Under the Poppy.

And here are some upcoming appearances Kathe will be making:

Oct. 28-31 World Fantasy Convention
— Columbus OH

Nov. 10 Common Language Bookstore
— Ann Arbor MI

Nov. 11 Five15 Media, Mojo & More
— Royal Oak MI   

Nov. 17 KGB Bar — New York NY

Amaranth & Ash Blog Tour 2010: Victoria Janssen

Hey! The Amaranth & Ash Blog Tour 2010 is wrapping up. Today I'm at my pal, Harlequin Spice author Victoria Janssen's blog, talking about pronouns and intersex characters.  Stop over and share your views.

This Sunday, I'm hosting a chat on Kayelle Allen's Yahoo! Group, RomanceLivesForever from 10 am to noon. I'll be posting excerpts, running contests and generally acting up, so come on by.

Amaranth & Ash Blog Tour 2010: Day Three

I'm blogging on the matter of souls at Fiction with Friction today. Comment and enter a contest to win Amaranth & Ash cover art.

Amaranth & Ash Blog Tour 2010: Day Two

Today I'm blogging on Romance Writer's Behaving Badly. There's a contest, plus I reveal my secret obsession: http://bit.ly/97i7WV

http://bit.ly/97i7WV

Author Spotlight: Debra Varva

Please welcome author Debra Varva.  Deb was one of those who responded to my Unpacking the Case Against M/M series of posts last fall.  In passing she mentioned that her first book was coming out in the spring, so naturally, I invited her to do a spotlight. (See what can happen when you comment on posts?  LOL)  Deb loves to write about power exchange, something I think a lot of us enjoy. Welcome to Friskbiskit, Deb, and congrats on your first published book!

Here's a bit about, New Leather, just out from Excessica yesterday:

Bondage is not journalist Carl Guttuso's thing. He has no need to tie a man up or beat the crap out of him and call it sexy. No one is doing that to him either—or so he thought. During an interview, the charismatic BDSM Dom, James Pauly, asks Carl to be his submissive lover to learn about the lifestyle from within and Carl agrees to a six-week contract.

James has not been romantically involved since his last sub left when James refused to whip him beyond what was safe. In Carl, he sees a second chance to connect with a man who wants more than the pain James can give him. He recognizes the sexual interest in Carl's eyes and thinks the handsome young reporter will be perfect.
 
Carl is surprised by the desire he feels for a man who admits to subjugating his lovers, but the intensity of the games they play becomes addictive and Carl wants more¾much more. James, dismayed by yet another sub's demands for pain, refuses to be rushed. He hopes to keep Carl past their contract, but it may be all he can do to keep him for the six weeks.
 

For both men, the arrangement becomes a journey of self-discovery that could tear them apart in spite of their growing attraction.

What gave you the idea for this story?
I belong to a writing group on Myspace called TXT or XXX Treehouse. They suggest a theme and we write something based on that. Last June the theme was BDSM and I wrote a sweet story on two young men who were new to bondage and each other. I liked the idea of "power exchange" so much; I wrote the book about a friend of theirs.

How did you start writing?
Myspace again. A friend started writing f/f erotica and it seemed like such a fun thing to do. I made a secret (not so secret now) profile and started writing m/m. The response was more than I could have hoped for.

If there were one misconception about m/m that you could clear up forever, what would it be?
I am not sick, twisted or a pervert. I do not secretly wish I were a man. The stories have nothing to do with my husband's sexuality. I guess I want people to realize that fantasies are just that.

If you could change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be?
There is not enough specialty books in the big book chains. M/M is almost nonexistent. Even straight erotica is very limited and thus not readily available if you don't have a computer.

What is your proudest moment as an author?
A straight male friend read one of my m/m stories in my blog and told he had not known gay erotica could be so beautiful.

What kind of impact do you hope your work will have on readers?
I am not out to educate anyone, but if someone is enlightened to the true nature of love by my stories; that would be awesome.

Kirk, or Spock?
Both together. LOL

What have you always wished someone would ask you?  Now answer!
What would your mother say about what you write?
She would love it! Everything that is good in me came from her.

Awesome answers, Deb.  Here's an excerpt from New Leather, folks. Enjoy!

Author Spotlight: Jeanne St. James

Please welcome Jeanne St. James, who is here today to talk about her new release, Double Dare, a steamy m/m/f menage available from Loose Id and an ebook and a paperback.

Blurb for Double Dare: What could be better than waking up next to a hot guy? Waking up sandwiched between two of them.

Quinn Preston, a financial analyst, is not happy when her friends dare her to pick up a handsome stranger at a wedding reception. What better reason to give up men when her previous long-term relationship had not only been lackluster in the bedroom but he had cheated?

Logan Reed, a successful business owner, can’t believe that he’s attracted to the woman in the ugly, Pepto-Bismol pink bridesmaid dress. And to boot, she’s more than tipsy. After turning down her invitation for a one-night stand, he finds her in the parking lot too impaired to drive. He rescues her and takes her home. His home.

The next morning Quinn’s conservative life turns on its ear when Logan introduces her to pleasures she never even considered before. And to make things more complicated, Logan already has a lover.

Tyson White, ex-pro football player, is completely in love with Logan. He has mixed emotions when Logan brings home Quinn. But the dares keep coming...

Tell us about Double Dare.

 

My last release came out in ebook in January and is now available in print. It’s my first book that has come out in print and I’m a bit excited about it! It’s titled Double Dare and I’ve included the blurb and a small excerpt. I had a lot of fun writing it because it was my first ménage I’ve written (m/m/f) and my first book that had m/m sex in it. It actually started out as an m/f erotic romance with the hero being Logan Reed and the heroine being Quinn Preston. While I was writing, Tyson White popped into the story… and away I went…

 

What gave you the idea for this story?

 

Actually the movie “The Wedding Crashers,” though Double Dare has nothing to do with the movie… But I wrote the opening scene after that movie and then sat on it for a while. (Which is typical for me – I write a scene and then I file it away for the future.) Then one day I just ran with it and it took a life of its own. Movies and books usually spark an idea for me – I just think they put me in a creative mood… my idea usually has nothing to do with the book I’m reading or the movie I’m watching, but my imagination starts running wild.

 

Why do you write?

 

Fantasy. Pure and simple. I can get in my characters heads and make them do what I want. I can put them in situations I want and determine how it ends up. I control their fate. That gives me a lot of power! LOL!

 

What do you like to read?

 

I wish I had time to read. However, I read only the romance genre but different subgenres. I enjoy erotic romance, paranormal, historical, urban fantasy, you name it. M/F, ménages, M/M. I got a Sony ereader for Christmas and I haven’t used it yet. I have loads of books on my TBR pile.

 

How did you start writing?

 

I started writing around the age of thirteen. I used it as therapy during my teenage years, which were full of angst of course. I wrote my first novel about a teenage girl who lived with a gang. It was in first person and I’m sure if I could find it, it would be awful. But I worked on it for a long time and enjoyed writing it.

 

Was there a time when you almost gave up?  What made you keep going?

 

I almost give up all the time! LOL! Writing is a hard business to get into and be successful. And you have to be creative… Some days I just don’t feel that way. I wrote my first published novel, Banged Up, years and years ago. I sent it to contests where it did well and then I sat on it. I didn’t have the confidence to finish it and send it anywhere. So I really didn’t write for a while. When ebooks and erotic romance got popular I dusted it off, revised it and not long after I submitted it, Banged Up was accepted by Liquid Silver Books. It’s gotten great reviews. That spurred me to write Rip Cord and Double Dare, both accepted quickly by publishers. Now I am slacking again and I need a push to get going to finish some other works in progress. What really keeps me going is when I hear from a reader who loved my story!

 

What is your proudest moment as an author?

 

Finding out co-workers FOUGHT (yes, fought!) over my book. And they were close too and then didn’t speak for days. Guess what? Neither got to read it. I told them to buy their own copies. Ok, I don’t know if that SHOULD be my proudest moment but it makes me laugh. I never would have thought people would be fighting to read my stories.

Below is a seductive excerpt from Double Dare: