tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955719390715263742024-02-07T13:39:54.137-05:00Vices and VirtuesLayne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-74491476693190532212013-10-30T14:30:00.001-04:002013-10-30T14:32:27.605-04:00Fall Fires Blog Tour: M.C. Rayne & Our Walk to Remember<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Today, I welcome M.C. Rayne to the blog to talk
about wishes, distractions, and writing styles. M.C. is the author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our Walk to Remember</i> another fantastic
story from Renaissance Romance Publishing’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fall
Fires </i>anthology.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">A genie grants you three
writing-related wishes: what are they and why? </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Oooh, I love this question. Now
writing wishes, let me think. I guess my first wish would be to get rid of my
procrastinating. It really is a pain sometimes when I have ideas screaming in
my head and all I seem to be doing is updating facebook or chatting to friends
online. Yes, social media is a great way to interact with people of like mind,
but it can also be a hindrance sometimes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Second, I guess I would wish for the
genre I write for (Male/Male romance) to be more readily available to the
buying public. I hate not having these books gracing popular book shops, or if
they are, for them not to have to be amongst the erotica and Mills and Boon. It
does shock me sometimes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Third, I wish readers would always
review, all authors want that, but without the bitterness. I like to read
reviews before I make a purchase, its the kind of person I am, and I have read
so many hateful and nasty comments about books. Constructive criticism is fine,
nastiness isn't! Authors put their hearts and soul into their work, so why make
them feel bad for trying to share with the world what they love to do?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Do you agree with the adage “Write
what you know”? </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Definatly! I’m openly gay, so for me
I have to write M/M related stories. The things I work on are not all about gay
men coming out to families and the world, more just dealing with the fact the
pairing are men; nothing more. I don’t feel the need to have my characters
declare their sexuality, unless this is the plot direction I wish to take,
because readers already know the book they are reading is from this genre. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">I think if I were to write something
I am not familiar with, but I really wanted to do it, I would do lots of
research until I feel comfortable dancing my fingers over the keyboard to lay
the words down.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Name the five biggest distractions
from your writing.</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Life. You may want to get lost in
your writing, but until you are making the money needed to not have to do the 9
- 5 grind, you need to leave the house and go to work. I really don’t know how
stay at home mums manage to look after children while producing great books, my
hat goes off to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Friends and family. This can fall
into the above, and for me it does. Yes I would love to sit and write all day,
but my friends and family would probably take my computer away if I ignored
them for too long.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Movies. I am a film addict, so when
something good is on Netflix writing is the last thing on my mind. I have
written while watching something before, but then I look up and think ‘oh, it
ended?’ That, or you see the twist at the end and realise you missed the developement
- this will ruin a good film.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Reading. I think all authors love
reading, we must do right? Once you open a book, or turn on your kindle, hours
can pass and you realise you have missed some good writing time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Sleep. Do we really need it? Isn’t
this when the best ideas come? I love my sleep, but as soon as my head hits the
pillow I am rethinking my novel or current chapter. So glad to have my iPhone
near me so I can type things up for the morning.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Our Walk to Remember:</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the Robinson-Shae family, an annual charity walk means more
to them than any expensive holiday abroad. After all, it’s where Elisha’s
fathers met, and this year it’s even more important to her. Sammy couldn't make
it this time, so she asks Charlie to share memories of how they met, and fell
in love.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A quick peek at what’s under the cover -</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elisha looks back at me and pulls on our adjoined
arms, giggling happily to herself while dancing her knee-length,
yellow summer dress around her body so it moves with the warm breeze. I forget
how much she loves this annual event. We’ve always done it together. She gets
excited to see all the people she’s grown up around. I hope she never grows
tired of this venture, never loses herself to the world of television and
computer games when she could make a difference doing something small, yet
huge.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Such thoughts make me shudder, thinking someone as
delicate as little Elisha could ever be a slave to the mediocre. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Not our baby, no way!</span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Tell me again, Dad,” she interjects, turning towards
me and smiling with joy. “Tell me about when you met Daddy?”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her brown eyes sparkle when she looks up at me,
lighting her porcelain face. Can a father ever refuse his daughter? How do you
say ‘no’ to the product of your love, the
person who found a home in your heart without trying and
looks to you to lead themalong the right paths?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Again?” I tease. “You know this story so well, you
can probably tell it better than me.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Warmth fills my cheeks, bringing colour back into
this aging man’s face while he toys with the light of his life, the only
other person he loves without question. So many times Sammy and I have sat
before a roaring fire while Elisha recounted our history like she’s
reading a book. Her voice is always filled with such passion that we hang on
her every word. One would be forgiven for thinking it’s her past she is
detailing, but I guess my husband and I never get bored with sharing
how we came to be the lovers we are today.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I like it better when you tell it, Dad. Don’t
worry; I will fill in any parts you miss,” she chimes in an
assertive manner, and I know without a doubt she will.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Okay, baby,” I commence, drawing her in close so I
don’t have to shout too loud.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t need unwanted ears to hear
something that will forever remain unwritten, a story that’s stamped
into my heart and is ours alone. Sammy has his own version of the life we
share, but this is all from the very soul of Charlie Shae — this is
how I found my love.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This shouldn’t be so hard to recollect, but I’ve
never had to share our story without my counterpart sitting next to me,
relishing my retelling. While the warm breeze runs through my free
fingers again, I try to grab onto the emptiness and envision that Sammy isn’t
very far away. Sadly, my mind isn’t that creative.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Swallowing the pain, I lose myself to the words
flowing from me and find myself on auto pilot.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It was the summer of 1996. I had just finished
college. . .”</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasqXwO1AMM3w3incubnzOD-BLadyKJucpOVy6UDFyqHnYfjRJURzO3IaPjJkqhWNWhye-jd6A2f0aVlusrwfmesQ16sF7EHI667YC26RA24wdBqYsAnLwJI2ualTpK4QxCKpmKWJzylVa/s1600/author+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasqXwO1AMM3w3incubnzOD-BLadyKJucpOVy6UDFyqHnYfjRJURzO3IaPjJkqhWNWhye-jd6A2f0aVlusrwfmesQ16sF7EHI667YC26RA24wdBqYsAnLwJI2ualTpK4QxCKpmKWJzylVa/s320/author+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">M. C. Rayne got into writing after the
passing of his mother, and used it as an outlet to get through the difficult
time. He never really thought about becoming an author, but since putting pen
to paper he has never looked back</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Currently he lives in Leeds with his
two best friends Dae and Pete, and his guinea pig, Bean. He spends a lot of
time reading and writing, and far too much time procrastination online.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Blog <a href="http://simplymcrayne.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://simplymcrayne.blogspot.co.uk</a></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">FB <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/MC-Rayne-Author-Page/534108516611284?ref=hl" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/pages/MC-Rayne-Author-Page/534108516611284?ref=hl</a></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Goodreads <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7255637.M_C_Rayne" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7255637.M_C_Rayne</a></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/SimplyMatt2" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SimplyMatt2</a></span></div>
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There’s no post tomorrow, but join me again on
November 1<sup>st</sup>, when author K.L. Platt will be joining me in the hot
seat.</div>
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Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-16490276148863000842013-10-29T01:03:00.000-04:002013-10-29T01:03:39.472-04:00Fall Fires Blog Tour: Jude Ouvrard & Wonderland<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ekzOqYOuc7kRdrw8tLXQPmEN0QtlVj4C9w_WJ3GGsRCmq3nuUmflhYMUUM1sPHKpWNigikpnExyBVcqPdmqvoom322yyj6OnAjDSWHAdjTMNG_pkhynJJ2KUrveDHYYWODaGinZGSMx4/s1600/Tour+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ekzOqYOuc7kRdrw8tLXQPmEN0QtlVj4C9w_WJ3GGsRCmq3nuUmflhYMUUM1sPHKpWNigikpnExyBVcqPdmqvoom322yyj6OnAjDSWHAdjTMNG_pkhynJJ2KUrveDHYYWODaGinZGSMx4/s400/Tour+banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today, I welcome Jude Ouvrard to the blog for a “get
to know the author” post. Jude is the author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wonderland</i>, another fantastic story from Renaissance Romance
Publishing’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fall Fires </i>anthology.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXYC3ERioTAX3uDvwaQ7CdbYbc04RCxaB1RzfvTJU1Ke07rPdlSS-0P3y9MQ8HyKKbjAttaaMAgGd9waqYaUq3LuL-1PgXK2leCKYFAPxCLsezsol0SsO4QvO5u2OtkkkzUTuTMUwle3E/s1600/Fall+Fires+Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXYC3ERioTAX3uDvwaQ7CdbYbc04RCxaB1RzfvTJU1Ke07rPdlSS-0P3y9MQ8HyKKbjAttaaMAgGd9waqYaUq3LuL-1PgXK2leCKYFAPxCLsezsol0SsO4QvO5u2OtkkkzUTuTMUwle3E/s640/Fall+Fires+Cover.png" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tell us about three other writers
who inspire you.</i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jamie Mcguire </b>is one of my favorite authors. She is down to Earth
and I love her writing style. I even own a dedicated copy of Beautiful
Disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She inspires me because she
started as a self published author and now is one of the most popular authors.
She is a New York Times Bestseller. She believed in herself and was able to
write the Providence series, which I loved; Beautiful Disaster & Walking
Disaster, the movie transcript is already done and her recent novel, Red Hill,
a zombie apocalypse. Her ability to create characters and make you fall for
them astonished me. McGuire amazes me with her talent and devotion! I’m hoping
that I’ll be able to meet her someday.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Colleen Hoover </b>is the only author who has the power to break my
heart with her words and storyline. I feel the pain of her characters. She is a
genius. I admire her and I wish she could give me private classes on how to be
as cool as Colleen Hoover. Slammed, Point of Retreat and This girl are part of
one of my favorite series. Hopeless and Losing Hope are definitely on my
favorite list. Hopeless broke me into million pieces when I first read it.
Amazing! I’ve never read a book like this one, one of a kind. I am always
looking forward to her work. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Megan Noelle</b> is the author of Fool for you and Fighting for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I read Fool for you, I simply
fell in love with her writing and talent. I also have a major crush on her main
male character, Corey. He is perfect in every way! She is an author that I get
to talk with almost daily. Even though she has a busy schedule with writing,
school and her private life, she is helping me with my novel. I’m so thankful
for her help. Megan is amazing and I’m learning a lot from her. Get her novels
now!!</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A genie grants you three
writing-related wishes: what are they and why? </i></b></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li>I
would love to meet Jamie McGuire. Why, simply because she is my favorite
author and I admire her a lot. </li>
<li>I
would love to publish my novel before the end of 2013, I don’t know if it’s
still possible at that point but I would love if it could happen.</li>
<li>I
wish my writing was so good that I wouldn’t even need editing. I know this
is impossible but we are talking about a genie here....</li>
</ol>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Describe your ideal writing
space.</i></b></div>
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My ideal writing space...
I would love to have an ocean view or lake view. Maybe even a mountain view. I
would definitely have my own private office in my house and it would be painted
in light turquoise with one or two large windows. I would frame all my book
covers and let them have their own spot on my wall. Of course, I would have a
large wood desk and a very comfortable black leather chair. A girl can dream
right? </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jude, your ideal writing spot
sounds perfect – I’d like to reserve an armchair in the corner, please. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Wonderland:</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Lucas Colton is far too young to go
through all this pain but meeting poetry teacher<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">,</span> Preston Davidson<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">,</span>
changed everything. His life went from heartbreak to joyful and then, from friendship
to love. The impact Preston had on Lucas<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">’</span>
life was mesmerising. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What would you do if you knew you may
not have a tomorrow?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBWZLul-cpkVnS9-xtfrLuvl7pvPzM19eF9shgYWdQgX3uV3wBoBnaAGEqiO9CP4FYUluGb51m1p51Eo5Guusk8xhgftVw86ST2V3wtzpytlUmPf0l77gInJ8ABbOfovp3VlU2uA11vZk/s1600/Wonderland+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBWZLul-cpkVnS9-xtfrLuvl7pvPzM19eF9shgYWdQgX3uV3wBoBnaAGEqiO9CP4FYUluGb51m1p51Eo5Guusk8xhgftVw86ST2V3wtzpytlUmPf0l77gInJ8ABbOfovp3VlU2uA11vZk/s640/Wonderland+cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A quick peek at what’s under the cover -</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">When I arrived at Central Park, Preston was sitting by
the statue of Alice in Wonderland with two steaming cups of coffee in hand. He
wore a canary yellow sweatshirt with a pair of dark blue jeans and black
leather converse.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“You’re on time,” I teased, taking one of the cups from
him.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I figure I shouldn’t waste any more time.” Preston took
a sip of his coffee. “Life is too important right now. I don’t want to miss
anything.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I can see that you’ve thought about my situation
thoroughly.” I couldn’t help but be flattered. It was obvious now that he cared
about me, even if just as a friend.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I have a few questions for you. If you don’t mind, of
course.” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Curious, I wanted to know what was going on inside his
brain. Looking through his glasses, I saw how tired his eyes were, how the rims
were red. He hadn’t slept all night, I would bet. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to
answer all of them, but I’m willing to try.” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Preston made me nervous, and I hoped he wasn’t going to
ask for a medical explanation. I had asked to be told what was necessary. The
details weren’t important to me. All I knew was that I had kidney cancer, and
that it had started to spread to my other organs. My lungs were affected, but
they were giving me enough medication to keep me out of pain.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I want you to name three things you can’t live
without,” he said. That seemed pretty simple, nothing to be worried about.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“Coffee, a good movie, and cheesecake.” I laughed. “You
took me off guard. I don’t know, but those are things that I enjoy, I guess.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“It’s perfect. Now tell me: what would you do if
bacteria were killing all the coffee beans in the world, and you foresaw that
thirty days from now, you wouldn’t be able to find a single coffee bean in the
world?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Was Preston serious? What kind of question was that? I
shook my head and smiled. “I’d drink as much as I could, and I’d try to freeze
some to keep for special occasions.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“Good answer. Now tell me: what would you do if the film
industry decided that it was no longer profit-earning to produce movies and
that thirty days from now, there wouldn’t be any movies anywhere for sale or
rent?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I would buy as many movies as I could afford, and go to
the movie theater one last time.”</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“Another great answer. Last, but not least: what would
you do if the Cheesecake Factory was going bankrupt, and thirty days from now,
you couldn’t find a single piece of cheesecake in the entire world?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I would eat cheesecake for every meal, gain weight, and
die of heart failure,” I joked.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Preston laughed. “I’m asking you all these questions
because I’ve come up with a plan. You said you might have weeks to live. Let’s
hope you have a month. You have to make the most out of it. You have to enjoy
and do everything you’ve ever dreamed of doing. Are you ready to have the best
time of your life?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">A smile spread over my lips. “Okay, I see where you’re
going with this.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I’ll spend that month with you. I want to be with you
every time you smile or cry, when you feel good, or when you’re in pain. You
can’t do this alone, Lucas. So tell me: what is it that you’ve always dreamed
of doing?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“I’m a pretty simple guy; don’t need much to be happy,
so forgive me if we aren’t going to Australia. I think we’ll stay here in New
York.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“Sounds good to me </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bitstream Charter"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">— </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">and my wallet.” Preston looked at me, waiting for me to
tell him everything I wanted to do before the end came.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho78G7ZqclLW8Rncv2LND5XRQeKsQg4h4GF2D70w-chPWIzLtclvvJ8DHabjukhNj9p-_jrF76SqnVqW5DwA4w88fT0i85lLtlm-wHPlbpr5bawV7DDsw9sAujiPcjfWcRR24gxronYPdK/s1600/author+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho78G7ZqclLW8Rncv2LND5XRQeKsQg4h4GF2D70w-chPWIzLtclvvJ8DHabjukhNj9p-_jrF76SqnVqW5DwA4w88fT0i85lLtlm-wHPlbpr5bawV7DDsw9sAujiPcjfWcRR24gxronYPdK/s320/author+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Jude was born and raised in a small
village named Lacolle. She now lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud
mother of a beautiful four year old son, and has spent the last twelve years
with her partner, Cedric.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">French is her native language, but she
prefers to write in her second language, English.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Besides working full time for a Title
Insurance Company and being a mother, Jude has a passion for books, both
reading and writing them.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">She is currently working on a novel
called Body, Ink, and Soul. Coming soon!</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Also written by Jude
Ouvrard:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Under the Sun, </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">from the anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heat Wave:
Volume Two</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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You can follow Jude and her writings at the
following links:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
website/blog: <a href="http://www.judeouvrard.com/" target="_blank">www.judeouvrard.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Twitter; <a href="http://www.twitter.com/judeouvrard" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/judeouvrard</a>
or <a href="http://www.twitter.com/authorjude_o" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/authorjude_o</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Facebook page:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jude-Ouvrard/217369475054540?ref=hl" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jude-Ouvrard/217369475054540?ref=hl</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Goodreads:<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7055526.Jude_Ouvrard" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7055526.Jude_Ouvrard</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Pinterest: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/judeouvrard/boards/" target="_blank">http://www.pinterest.com/judeouvrard</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
About me: <a href="http://about.me/judeouvrard" target="_blank">http://about.me/judeouvrard</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jude-Ouvrard/e/B00E3OGKUS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1379095938&sr=8-1" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Jude-Ouvrard/e/B00E3OGKUS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1379095938&sr=8-1</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Barnes and Noble:<u> </u><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jude-ouvrard" target="_blank">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jude-ouvrard</a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> *****</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Stop by tomorrow, when author M.C. Rayne will be
joining me in the hot seat.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-87550212026596186322013-10-28T14:54:00.001-04:002013-10-28T14:55:43.289-04:00Fall Fires Blog Tour: N.L. Leeks and Winter's Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ekzOqYOuc7kRdrw8tLXQPmEN0QtlVj4C9w_WJ3GGsRCmq3nuUmflhYMUUM1sPHKpWNigikpnExyBVcqPdmqvoom322yyj6OnAjDSWHAdjTMNG_pkhynJJ2KUrveDHYYWODaGinZGSMx4/s1600/Tour+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ekzOqYOuc7kRdrw8tLXQPmEN0QtlVj4C9w_WJ3GGsRCmq3nuUmflhYMUUM1sPHKpWNigikpnExyBVcqPdmqvoom322yyj6OnAjDSWHAdjTMNG_pkhynJJ2KUrveDHYYWODaGinZGSMx4/s400/Tour+banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Continuing our spotlight on the authors of
Renaissance Romance Publishing’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fall
Fires </i>anthology, today I am hosting N. L. Leeks, author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Winter’s Love</i>. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXYC3ERioTAX3uDvwaQ7CdbYbc04RCxaB1RzfvTJU1Ke07rPdlSS-0P3y9MQ8HyKKbjAttaaMAgGd9waqYaUq3LuL-1PgXK2leCKYFAPxCLsezsol0SsO4QvO5u2OtkkkzUTuTMUwle3E/s1600/Fall+Fires+Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXYC3ERioTAX3uDvwaQ7CdbYbc04RCxaB1RzfvTJU1Ke07rPdlSS-0P3y9MQ8HyKKbjAttaaMAgGd9waqYaUq3LuL-1PgXK2leCKYFAPxCLsezsol0SsO4QvO5u2OtkkkzUTuTMUwle3E/s640/Fall+Fires+Cover.png" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Do
you agree with the adage ‘Write what you know’?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">No, I don’t believe with it. I’m sure
there are some writers that will only stick to what they know, and if that
works for them, then great, I think that’s awesome for them. For me, though, I
love being able to branch out and try new things, I might find that I am good
at one genre, but why not try new things, there could be others that you are
really good at.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So long as the writer does their research,
makes sure that they have their facts correct, that nothing could be
misconstrued or anything like that, then what’s wrong with trying your hand at
something different? You may just find something else that you excel at!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not only that, but some readers can get
tired of reading the same things by the same author, they get to a point where
they know what to expect and there are no surprises, no differentiation.
Whereas, an author who writes more than one genre, could have more readers in
the long run, as they never know what to expect from them. Take Stephen King as
an example, he writes one main genre of horror, but then branches off into sub-genres.
He has books in fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers etc. When I pick up
a book by him, it’s nothing like what I might have read by him the previous
week!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then you take someone like Jonathan
Kellerman, he writes mainly psychological books, and after reading four or five
by him, I could guess what was coming next before I’d read it. By sticking with
one genre, you come to a point where you’ve done everything you possibly could,
and have ran out of avenues to explore. Failing that, someone else has already
done it.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Describe
your ideal writing space.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">That’s the easiest question I’ve been
asked yet! If I could live there more often, then it would be the cottage that
my Grandmother has at Buckhorn Lake in Canada. It’s quiet, cosy without being
small and has the most beautiful view! Inspiration has struck me many times
just while being there for a few days when I was there last. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">All I would change, is to have a desk near
one of the windows so I could look out. Take a break from staring a computer
screen or a lined notepad. Then I would have a small table with a chair facing
the lake for the days when it’s warm so I can catch a few rays at the same
time!</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Seeing as I can’t be there all the time, I
just need to be somewhere quiet, where my thoughts can run rampant without the
hustle and bustle of everyday life. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Summarily, apart from the cottage, my idea
writing space doesn’t exist! There are simply too many people everywhere to
find somewhere quiet enough!</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>Winter's Love </i>is N.L. Leeks short story in the <i>Fall Fires</i> anthology. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Winter’s Love:</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
A past relationship has left Jared Winter broken. When Eric Healey runs
into him, Jared finds a reason to learn to trust again. The two men begin to
fall for one another, but the prejudice around them threatens to tear them
apart. Can their love survive in the real world?</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0OMZPZBsa3umyLRbZgc3q6WT_i7gEoarHEUkyI-jIEI2xxT-SL-vOPbb81PvPpYZpHOrlYi8d6Ku-T_2C7qhgoX2bh4RUK0cJ0mhk7YyEgcUPEeHG8KfJSPD3XAYF20eePQK012VikVm/s1600/Winter's+Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0OMZPZBsa3umyLRbZgc3q6WT_i7gEoarHEUkyI-jIEI2xxT-SL-vOPbb81PvPpYZpHOrlYi8d6Ku-T_2C7qhgoX2bh4RUK0cJ0mhk7YyEgcUPEeHG8KfJSPD3XAYF20eePQK012VikVm/s640/Winter's+Love.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A quick peek at what’s under the cover -</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“Hey!
Jared! Yoo-hoo!”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">I
cringed once more and turned to my sister, forcing a smile. “Hey, Rose-Anne.” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“What
are you doing here?” She giggled.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“Well,
Rose-Anne, in general one attends Asda, or any other supermarket, when they’re
doing their food shopping,” I sniggered.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Rose-Anne
rolled her eyes and glowered at me. I knew what she meant and was trying to be
subtle while avoiding her questions.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“Jared,
stop playing dumb with me. You know what I mean. Curry powder, two types of
meat, and prawns? You only cook this fancy when . . . Oh! You have a date
tonight, don’t you?” she squealed.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Behind
me, the cashier told me the check came to twenty-three pounds and some change.
I handed her a twenty and a five and waited for her to hand me the difference.
As she placed it in my hand, I took it and grabbed my already bagged shopping,
thankful that it had been done while Rose-Anne had been interrogating me.
Trouble was, she was still at it while I made my way back to the car.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“Rose-Anne!
For the love of all alive, will you please drop the subject? I love you to
pieces, but for just once, can I enjoy something without having to be
interrogated by you?” I yelled.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">I
saw tears pool in her eyes and felt the guilt in an instant. Finding my car, I
placed the shopping in the back and pulled her into a hug.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sighed. “I’m sorry, sissy, but sometimes you
are just too much.” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“Sorry,
Jed.” I cringed at the nickname, “I know I’m too nosy for my own good. But it’s
been so long since we’ve seen you with someone. We were beginning to think you
had taken a life of celibacy, all because of . . .”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“No!
I don’t want to hear his name, sissy! Yes, I’m having someone over for dinner
tonight. It’ll only be the second time I have seen him, so yeah I’m playing my
cards close to my chest. And yes, I’m a little dubious about where this will
go, but I won’t allow . . . him . . . to ruin everything good in my life, okay?
My friend’s name is Eric, seeing as you’re dancing around I’m sure that’s what
you wanted to ask me. Now that you’ve achieved your mission, you may return to
our beloved parents and tell them anything you want, but no phone calls
tonight!”</span></i></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
N.L. Leeks
lives in England with her fiancé, whom she has been with since the age of
eighteen. She first began writing when she was a child. Her friends, Matt and
Lou, helped her reignite that passion as an adult, and her journey into writing
began once more.</div>
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You can follow N. L. Leeks and her writings at the
following links:</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">FB </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NatashaLattoLeeks"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">https://www.facebook.com/NatashaLattoLeeks</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Goodreads<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7255635.N_L_Leeks?from_search=true"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7255635.N_L_Leeks?from_search=true</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Tumblr </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://tainted-tash.tumblr.com/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">http://tainted-tash.tumblr.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"></span></div>
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Stop by tomorrow, when author Jude Ouvrard will be
joining me in the hot seat.</div>
Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-8995743465236417682013-10-27T01:12:00.002-04:002013-10-27T01:12:27.371-04:00Fall Fires Blog Tour: C.W. Stevens & Love, Unexpected<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Continuing our spotlight on the authors of
Renaissance Romance Publishing’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fall
Fires </i>anthology, today I am hosting C.W. Stevens and digging a bit into her
writing process and goals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXYC3ERioTAX3uDvwaQ7CdbYbc04RCxaB1RzfvTJU1Ke07rPdlSS-0P3y9MQ8HyKKbjAttaaMAgGd9waqYaUq3LuL-1PgXK2leCKYFAPxCLsezsol0SsO4QvO5u2OtkkkzUTuTMUwle3E/s1600/Fall+Fires+Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXYC3ERioTAX3uDvwaQ7CdbYbc04RCxaB1RzfvTJU1Ke07rPdlSS-0P3y9MQ8HyKKbjAttaaMAgGd9waqYaUq3LuL-1PgXK2leCKYFAPxCLsezsol0SsO4QvO5u2OtkkkzUTuTMUwle3E/s640/Fall+Fires+Cover.png" width="425" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">How do you develop your writing ideas?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .55in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the
beginning, my ideas come from one particular scene trying to claw its way out
of my head, which usually ends up somewhere in the middle of the story. After
the scene is written I think about what brought the characters to this point,
and write backwards. While doing that, other ideas come to the surface for use
later, and I write ahead. As all pieces come together, the story takes on
a life of its own</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and
sometimes writes itself. I am not one who can follow an outline from beginning
to end. At most, I plot a very vague timeline, which I may or may not follow.
It all depends on the moods and personalities of the characters I've created,
where they lead, and what kind of mood I'm in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A genie grants you three writing-related wishes:
what are they and why?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To have
an improved imagination. Sometimes I don't look very far outside the box, and
my story sounds like every other one out there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To
possess the ability to stay within the tense I'm writing. This is one of my
biggest struggles, and I would love to be able to write a complete story
without sliding back and forth, from present to past.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To be
able to let the words flow when writing guest posts, interviews, etc., instead
of sitting for an hour, trying to decide what to say, and how to say it. Being
somewhat of an introvert, at times, it can be crippling!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 24.6pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What are your writing goals for the next
year?</span> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I hope to
have at least one more manuscript ready to submit, and hope it's good enough to
be considered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Name the five biggest distractions from your
writing.</span> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Husband coming
in to "check on me" every fifteen minutes; phone calls; work;
television; the need to sleep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me,
C.W.! </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love,
Unexpected</i> is C.W. Steven’s contribution to the Fall Fires anthology:<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Love, Unexpected:</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
As Michael and Chuck's loving union comes to pass, two, gay members
of the wedding party discover the sweet bonds of a
comfortable companionship. Attraction becomes more as they recognize their
true soul mate in each other, which fills the romantic void in their
solitary lives. It seems only one, small obstacle stands in their way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqIuIKp9OgJXQOAjtndoGDQhpFhuBNCq8mJ2gvhqf0fq31e8V6wbuokmNRBmCu9bsZK7vo6PyWGP1UHhC7Q74QtVcgGEabudn6u31BPRTK00MNNNsTkkdhRlCW2B7YZqMBkWVpZtCMpSy/s1600/Love+Unexpected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqIuIKp9OgJXQOAjtndoGDQhpFhuBNCq8mJ2gvhqf0fq31e8V6wbuokmNRBmCu9bsZK7vo6PyWGP1UHhC7Q74QtVcgGEabudn6u31BPRTK00MNNNsTkkdhRlCW2B7YZqMBkWVpZtCMpSy/s640/Love+Unexpected.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A quick peek at what’s under the cover -</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chuck slapped me on the back and
pulled me into a tight hug, giving me a peck on the <br />
cheek. “Evan! It’s so good to see you again. What’s it been… four months?” I
smiled while <br />
looking at my friend. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
were up in Oak Harbor helping some friend work on his boat the last time I was
here <br />
for a visit, if I remember correctly,” I reminded him. “You returned the day
after I left!” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He
got me into a headlock and playfully poked me in the ribs. “Yeah, you just
couldn’t <br />
manage to stay one more day until I got back, could you, punk?” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> With
both of us laughing, he released me. When he did, my attention was drawn away;
I <br />
became enraptured by a handsome stranger whose face had the power to make me
forget how <br />
to breathe. My palms became sweaty, and my breath caught in my throat while I
took in his <br />
features. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
There he stood, long and lean, and looking very toned. I guessed he was around
six foot <br />
two, his dark wash jeans tight enough to accentuate his ass, hugging it in all
the right places. <br />
He had on a deep red, button-down shirt, which seemed created to be worn only
by him, the <br />
top three buttons undone. His hair was long, dark, and pushed behind his ears;
it was straight <br />
and shiny, and the overhead lights sparkled off each strand. Eyes, which were a
brilliant shade <br />
of blue, seemed depthless as they pierced through my soul. Fuck! My jaw had
fallen to the <br />
floor, and I snapped it closed before he could see. Chuck noticed though,
smirked at me, and <br />
then made the introduction. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
“Evan, I don’t think you’ve ever met my cousin, Jon Schubert. Jon, this is Evan
Thomas, <br />
Michael’s cousin and best friend. He’ll be serving as Mike’s best man.” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The stranger captivated me, but I managed
to find my voice. “Very pleased to make your <br />
acquaintance,” I stuttered with a smile while our eyes remained locked
together. I was hoping <br />
he hadn’t noticed my tongue hanging out when he raised his hand to shake mine.
It wasn’t <br />
much of a shake; more like a lingering touch. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
“Likewise, Evan. Always a pleasure to meet one of Chuck’s boys.” His voice was
as smooth <br />
as satin when he spoke in a low, rich tone, causing the hairs on the back of my
neck to stand <br />
to attention. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> His
eyes sparkled, a smile emerged, and dimples blossomed within his cheeks, his
lips full <br />
and pink. I didn’t miss the fact he was still holding my hand, his eyes never
leaving mine while <br />
I hesitated to pull away. He was beautiful, the darkness of his hair
highlighting his pale skin.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUvg0aPPrzn6cz-xDDLu4KX7Y-0DewZx-iE96fPb_6zBHWKPZgzZX18cH6ZqiXNHtQEHsG3DYhWF8GoT_wWFUzENFRIg7O7SIV0cd54JYYn-hih52Oa0SwY6zzdhcVl6fl65N_Lng-9BA/s1600/author+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUvg0aPPrzn6cz-xDDLu4KX7Y-0DewZx-iE96fPb_6zBHWKPZgzZX18cH6ZqiXNHtQEHsG3DYhWF8GoT_wWFUzENFRIg7O7SIV0cd54JYYn-hih52Oa0SwY6zzdhcVl6fl65N_Lng-9BA/s320/author+pic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
C.W.
Stevens lives in the United States, in the Midwest, where the winters are cold
and icy, and the summers are disgustingly hot and humid. Spring and fall are
her favorite times of the year.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Reading is
one of her favorite pastimes.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
She enjoys
writing and loves meeting new people along the way. Music and Abstract are a
couple of her favorite Arts. She enjoys the challenge of trying to unlock the
meaning of what the artist is trying to express. She enjoys solitude and hates
crowds.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
C. W. has
two, grown sons, and loves spending time with her three grandchildren. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Life is
good!</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
You can follow C.W. and her writings at the
following links:<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CWStevens1" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/CWStevens1</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
FB Author: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/C-W-Stevens/507441305968818?ref=hl" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/pages/C-W-Stevens/507441305968818?ref=hl</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
blogger: <a href="http://wocwstevens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://wocwstevens.blogspot.com/</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7255638.C_W_Stevens" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7255638.C_W_Stevens</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br />
Stop by tomorrow, when author N.L. Leeks will be
joining me in the hot seat.</div>
Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-58620918763663473782013-10-26T13:01:00.000-04:002013-10-27T01:09:57.791-04:00Fall Fires Blog Tour: N. Wood & Woodshed Wishes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6IQPxCr6kx4zRnNU6N6Gl-i_IssmEqK4KHDNSmyauuFSunZ8vmEpgpL01sw0PD0Endlj2N174VDEU23pPmpooCm5kxDWzJ5mewN2_sBUoVwxjtakA1F3qT7fll6NsFp5Kn2sGYBiynIJ/s1600/Tour+banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6IQPxCr6kx4zRnNU6N6Gl-i_IssmEqK4KHDNSmyauuFSunZ8vmEpgpL01sw0PD0Endlj2N174VDEU23pPmpooCm5kxDWzJ5mewN2_sBUoVwxjtakA1F3qT7fll6NsFp5Kn2sGYBiynIJ/s400/Tour+banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This past Tuesday, October 22<sup>nd</sup>, an
outstanding anthology of six male/male romance short stories was released by Renaissance
Romance Publishing. Entitled Fall Fires, it showcases the works of these
talented authors, most of whom I am already acquainted with from our mutual
tenure in fanfiction. It is my pleasure, over the course off the next week, to
feature each of these authors in a short Q & A, as well as give you a peek
at their stories. </div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLtBARfPJaUykzTVqpoCMhQWh3jyEVxvejlUBtTQUvnjxIafLrDjj8MUfe7U8nEaBK5h9fBfRVQNZCfFSIk1TlF4R2p4ZItJ7M-a4SPwZ9a2CIFCqFizqQRpkwKpa81kGtkK9okDJOgrw/s640/Fall+Fires+Cover.png" width="425" /></div>
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Kicking off my little interview series is author
N. Wood. <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">N. Wood is a budding
young author living in Cornwall, United Kingdom. She developed an interest in
writing when her poetry was first published at the age of nine. Since then, she
has moved onto writing both short stories and novels focusing on gay romantic
themes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">How do you develop
your writing ideas?</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I
tend to keep a few files on Google Documents that are categorised into groups
depending on my stories. Usually each story has its own file, and within is the
main story document, a notes document where I can refer back if I can't
remember a detail about a character, and sometimes a chapter list where I've
made notes on a rough outline for what will happen in each chapter of the
story.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What makes you unique as a writer?</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That's
a question probably best posed to those who have read my work. It's hard to try
to think of a good answer when I'm the subject. I suppose that the most unique
aspect of my work is that I don't aim to make every character in my story a sex
god. I don't make them absolutely perfect and at least one character in each
story has something physically or mentally wrong with them. I guess in a way I
want to write them to stand out from the crowd, but at the same time to write
them as finding peace and love despite their ailments.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A genie grants you three writing-related
wishes: what are they and why?</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To make this writers' block go away!
I've had it for about four months.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To enforce in me the perfect plot
that will see my story become famous and loved the world over.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To give me the ability to write and
publish that perfect plot!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tell us about three other writers who
inspire you.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My
favourite male/male author is NR. Walker. It has amazed me for a few years now
how she can rattle out such wonderful stories in such a short time. What I love
most though is that each story has a great plot twist or a perfect moral that
people should strive to live by.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">RE
Hargrave is another of my favourites. Though I have never really had a fondness
for BDSM stories, I love that her work doesn't revolve around nothing but
detailed porn. I enjoy a story with a gripping plot, and her Divine books have
just that. I'm awaiting the third instalment with eagerness.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I
suppose I could say that the third author who inspires me is Stephenie Meyer,
because lets face it, I wouldn't be writing original stories today if not for
her. I started out as a Twilight slash fan fiction author, and now I write my
own original slash. I wouldn't have had the courage to do that without the
friends I've made in the fandom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Describe your writing
space. What do you like? What would you change?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My
writing space is an armchair in the corner of my living room. There isn't
really anything I like about the space or location, and I would change
everything about it if I could.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Describe your ideal writing space.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My
ideal place to write would be a quiet chalet on the coast where the windows
overlook the sea. It doesn't necessarily have to be a hot and sunny day,
because even watching the lightning and listening to the rain drumming on the
window would be much preferred from the bustle around my current home that
keeps me from writing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where do you find inspiration for your
characters?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I
just tend to write my characters however they present themselves in my mind.
Usually I name them and make small notes of their features before I can even
picture them in my head, but once that's done, they take on lives of their own
and it's me who has to try to keep up when they won't stop rushing ahead with
the story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do you agree with the adage “Write what
you know”?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I
guess I would need to answer both yes and no depending on the author. For
myself, I would prefer to mostly write what I know because then I can picture
it with far more clarity and that helps me to write the story with more ease.
Whereas some authors can write novels about places they've never been, even
times they've never seen, and the story can be perfect in every way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What (or who) inspires you to write the
most?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My
own deep desire to escape from reality. I began writing to help me block out
the things around me and to slip into my own world for a few hours each day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How has your writing career changed in
the past year?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Well,
I've gone from writing fanfiction stories and posting them online, to writing
original stories and submitting them to publishers. I can't really say that I
miss writing fanfiction, but I do sometimes still picture those characters when
I write, because I don't think they'll ever leave me forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What are your writing goals for the next
year?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I
don't like to set myself writing goals because I find that it makes it harder
for me to keep to them. It hasn't been helping with my writers' block lately,
and forcing myself to write certainly doesn't do any good either.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Share some resources that help you when
you’re writing.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My
main resource of help is my friends. There are those I can lean on when I don't
have the urge to write, and those I can run some ideas by and get their views
on. If I do come to a point in a story where I want to detail something that I
don't know the depth for, then I usually Google or Wikipedia the information.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Name the five biggest distractions from
your writing.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Noises, such as the TV being on or
music playing. I need silence!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">People walking through the room and
disturbing my train of thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">People talking around me or to me
when I'm trying to think.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Web pages in the background, such as
Facebook and Gmail. If it flashes a notification, I have to go and check it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .8in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My dog barking high-pitched every
time a cat walks across the window sill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Thanks, so much for taking the time to indulge my
questions! </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The story <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Woodshed
Wishes</i> is N. Wood’s contribution to the Fall Fires anthology: </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Woodshed Wishes:</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ben, a young gay romance
author, loses his way in the forest one stormy evening and is found by a
ranger. When Ben pitches in to help his new friend Peter in the woodshed, he
discovers that he may have met his match. Will Peter make Ben's woodshed wishes
come true?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOGGEuRUWVpJBrjggInsbRJLHI2AsUF8d0VzlE5lm52_w7dBcxS73D79hdY-QarheOpsDVGntKWAF4S4BjcHifQLTBn08IytcXAx2yNDzEF8hqfZhSTWWkJdQA2u9_ONRJwXV3IxqzKF5/s1600/Woodshed+Wishes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOGGEuRUWVpJBrjggInsbRJLHI2AsUF8d0VzlE5lm52_w7dBcxS73D79hdY-QarheOpsDVGntKWAF4S4BjcHifQLTBn08IytcXAx2yNDzEF8hqfZhSTWWkJdQA2u9_ONRJwXV3IxqzKF5/s640/Woodshed+Wishes.png" width="428" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Now
for a quick peek at what’s under the cover -</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Come
on, Petey,” I whined, teasing him with my personal rendition of his name. I
only used it when I was desperate to get my own way. The slight narrowing of
his eyes betrayed how little he thought of my chosen pet name for him, but I
took the opportunity to argue my point with a pout. “It’s still summer. We
won’t need a fire for months with this heat. There's plenty of time to do the
work.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: HI; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On any other day,
my brown puppy eyes could make him crumble and agree to whatever I suggested,
but on that day in particular, he appeared to somehow have the strength to
refuse.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You should take a leaf out of
your own book <span style="color: black;">— </span>literally,” he jested back,
adding a little more pressure to my breast bone to deter my attempt to edge
nearer to him. “What was it that Blake said to Trent in Ballboys? ‘Don’t
put off until tomorrow what you can do today’?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I rolled my eyes
when he quoted one of my many characters. Trust him to know my stories word for
word, not that I could complain. Some scenes from my books gained their
inspiration from things Peter and I had experienced together.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes, but you forget that Blake
was encouraging Trent to get down on his knees and suck his cock today instead
of putting it off until tomorrow,” I corrected him. “So how about we re-enact
that scene?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My hinting words
distracted him long enough that I was able to take the last step towards him.
Reaching down, I snagged my fingers under the belt that was looped through the
waistband of his jeans and started to unbuckle it. Though his eyes contained a
slight glaze of lust from the thoughts I’d instilled in him, he snapped out of
his distraction and caught a hold of my wrists, prying my hands away from him
and holding them there.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tut tut, naughty boy,” he
scolded with a teasing tone. “I have plans for tonight once all this work is
done, but you want to jump the gun and get the party started early? You can’t
disrupt my plans like that. You ought to be punished.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNQ8zWkP8bN7M1W1khyphenhyphenJA1bm03aQB5uhBnfz_kN-Ph0A9ozSUa-p1Q65Xw70Zv0nciWn0sy2VEa-uQRROWH_v9e3Rm3Up7ScbXIq4igM2fkpI6mTotfDRA1CZI5had7I1yqzKqJ52Vzhe/s1600/N+Woods.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNQ8zWkP8bN7M1W1khyphenhyphenJA1bm03aQB5uhBnfz_kN-Ph0A9ozSUa-p1Q65Xw70Zv0nciWn0sy2VEa-uQRROWH_v9e3Rm3Up7ScbXIq4igM2fkpI6mTotfDRA1CZI5had7I1yqzKqJ52Vzhe/s320/N+Woods.png" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
For more information about N. Wood and her
writing, you can find her at the following links: </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Blog:
</span><a href="http://nwoodstories.blogspot.co.uk/">http://nwoodstories.blogspot.co.uk/</a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Facebook:
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWoodstories">https://www.facebook.com/NWoodstories</a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Twitter:
</span><a href="https://twitter.com/WhitlockWood">https://twitter.com/WhitlockWood</a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Amazon:
</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/N.-Wood/e/B00B3HBE8G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/N.-Wood/e/B00B3HBE8G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1</a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Goodreads:
</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6897888.N_Wood">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6897888.N_Wood</a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Take
a Gamble</i>, is scheduled for release on November 12, 2013. I look forward to
having her back soon to discuss her next book. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Stop by tomorrow, when author C.W. Stevens will be
joining m in the hot seat.</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNQ8zWkP8bN7M1W1khyphenhyphenJA1bm03aQB5uhBnfz_kN-Ph0A9ozSUa-p1Q65Xw70Zv0nciWn0sy2VEa-uQRROWH_v9e3Rm3Up7ScbXIq4igM2fkpI6mTotfDRA1CZI5had7I1yqzKqJ52Vzhe/s1600/N+Woods.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-31972813678585183422012-08-31T23:04:00.000-04:002012-08-31T23:04:16.421-04:00Guest Post: Introducing L.J. HarrisYAY! Another one of the authors from the <i>Second Chances</i> anthology <strike>was coerced</strike> agreed to join me for a guest post!<br />
<br />
Today, I'd like to give you the opportunity to meet L.J. Harris, someone I've been fortunate enough to call my friend for almost two years now. A fabulous author, and a wonderfully special lady, I'll let L.J. tell you a bit about herself, and her story <i>Heart of Glass.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjMnz2AZHAXdfdOfXwJwV-cLG9AcqROIAw5aa-f3C7PokP07lM_rRAZnf-aD4ujErGhNf5OwEtbXH5y0TJsBp3ydna28DX1vCofidzp2-kFtVgC-EvDCCTpm-n1fwOjplhA7hfmo2iLcF/s400/Heart_of_Glass_Promo_w_border_(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/">Buy Here </a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Thank you Layne Faire for having me!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">I’m very excited to let you all know about
my contribution to the Second Chances Anthology, Heart of Glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">For the past 3 years, I’ve been an avid
reader and author of fan fiction, and not only did being a part of the fandom improve
my writing skills, I’ve made several life-long friends along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve written both het and male/male stories,
canon and non-canon, and have had a blast writing stories around the Twilight
characters, but now I feel it’s time to focus my energies on creating original
fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The novel I began before I
starting posting to fan fiction is in need of reworking, and when that is
complete I hope to submit it for publication as well, but in the meantime, I
thought I’d dip my toe in the water by submitting a short story for
publication, and that’s when I was inspired to write Heart of Glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">You never know when or where inspiration
will hit, and the storylines I come up with are often based around often
insignificant events, but events that capture my imagination and cause it to
run away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heart of Glass came to me in
that way, and was inspired by several window washers who frequent the busy
intersections of the main road that leads into my home city, Canberra,
Australia.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">I often used to see them on my way in to
work, toiling away, and it got me thinking. What were their lives like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What led them there? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they had been given other opportunities,
would they still be there, braving all kinds of extreme weather conditions to
make a living? I jotted down a few ideas, and it wasn’t long before the
character of Heath Connors was born. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Not long after that, I spotted a left hand
drive Mustang (we have right hand drive cars here in Australia) driving down
the highway and sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb among the luxury
cars that normally travel into the city, and the story solidified. That car stood
out so much that I just knew that one of the characters would own it, and that’s
when I came up with the character of Zack Doherty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Heart of Glass is a story about a man who
has always lived his life to please others, and somewhere along the way he
loses himself so much he finds he’s unhappy with his choice and can no longer
continue travelling the same path. Heath’s journey of self-discovery finally
begins when he breaks free of the shackles that have always tethered him to a
life he didn’t want, and when he finally feels as though his life is going in
the right direction, life throws Heath another curve ball, when he sees Zack
for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">And when they encounter one another
again…let’s just say the sparks fly. While Heath feels out of his depth, at the
same time he’s unequivocally attracted to Zack…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Though he seemed nervous, there was no mistaking
the fire in his deep blue eyes, so I decided to go for broke and whispered in a
low, seductive voice, “I know we’ve only just met, but I really want to see you
again. Can I get your number?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">“You don’t have to … I … mean, um … I don’t exactly
have a number, and I’m sure you have more important things to do than waste
your time with someone who can’t even afford to buy their own phone,” he
stammered nervously, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed several
times. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I wanted to lick it.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Instead, unable to resist touching him, I ran my
hand up the smooth skin of his arm until the tips of my fingers touched the
soft skin of his throat, then gently grazed them along the skin of his freshly
shaven jaw.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I’ve got nothing
else to do, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than in your company, Heath
Connors. So how about I call by your office in the morning and we take it from
there?” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">“You … want to go out? Wi-with me?” he asked,
stumbling over his words, the apples of his cheeks turning a delicious shade of
pink.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Adorable.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">“I’d love nothing more,” I answered with a smile,
my fingers gently caressing his beautiful, flushed face.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">“I don’t … I don’t know what to say,” he blurted,
his glorious smile almost taking my breath away as his body called to me, and
his sweet breath wafted across my face. Without further thought, I leaned in
closer until my lips were a hairsbreadth from the shell of his ear.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">“Just say yes,” I murmured.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">This is the story of how two people get
their second chance to find happiness, and how important it is to live your
life the way you want it, no matter what others think. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy
the very wonderful stories that comprise the Second Chances Anthology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-AU">L. J. Harris.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xHDR9yZfgL6IRET9nRGQdlAp1IocwHJ3OaWvXgh1P_pw1MJAyP1H3oES_u8VXwPLw-SFZbddw4tUcBEhVGknyGAgHg0I5vOsjWe8fCFxDHi3cETkP-OSgO_Dg7-jtgOUXmzwfUgP_817/s320/Second_Chances_Final_Cover.jpg" width="240" /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/"><span style="color: yellow;">Bottom Drawer Publications </span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Thanks so much for taking the time out to drop by, L.J.! I'm eagerly waiting for the email with my copy of the anthology, but given the excerpts I've seen, this looks to be a great assembly of stories by new authors. Check it out! </span></span> </span></div>
<br />
<br />Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-241985103696417192012-08-31T00:00:00.000-04:002012-08-31T00:03:48.058-04:00Guest Post: Introducing C.C. Lorenz <div style="text-align: center;">
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</xml><![endif]-->Today, I'd like to introduce you to new author, C.C. Lorenz, and her upcoming short story, <i>Notice to Appear,</i> scheduled for release today by Bottom Drawer Publications as part of their first M/M anthology.<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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I'd
like to start this post with a big thank you to Layne Faire for asking me to be
a guest on her blog and discuss my contribution to Second Chances, an
anthology of male / male short stories about finding love again.</div>
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<br /></div>
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VagLi60aNfQ" width="420"></iframe></center>
<br />
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I
draw heavily on real life experiences in my writing, both my own and others,
and this story is no different. When I was younger, I was pulled over at a
checkpoint and had to go to court for having an expired driver’s license
(everyone pull out your license and check the expiration date. Trust me, it’s
not worth the hassle to let that date slip past you!). In court, I spotted
someone that I had gone to high school sitting a few rows over. Personally, I
slumped down in my seat and hid from them, but when brainstorming for this
story, I thought it would be a fun way to spark a reconnection.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
A
lot of my characters are also based on people that I know in real life. I
like characters that are flawed in some way and looking around me is the
easiest way to tap into traits that can coexist while still allowing a person still
be likeable, or interesting. For example, a friend of mine is a lot
of fun to spend time with, but flighty and self-centered. Another one is
gorgeous and successful, but incredibly insecure. The characteristics may or
may not be blatantly written into a story, but just knowing what they are when
developing a new character helps me understand how they would react to
different situations.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Notice
to Appear is the story of Josh Campbell, a charmingly neurotic and somewhat
awkward recent college grad who reluctantly travels home for a court date following
a traffic violation. He spies a familiar face in the courtroom that day –
Carter Sullivan. Back in high school, while he was still coming to terms with
his sexuality, he nursed a massive crush on Carter, a tanned and
toned lifeguard who quickly became the object of Josh's fantasies. However,
Carter was older and had already graduated high school, and Josh
was pretty sure he didn't know that he existed. Upon seeing him again,
Josh finds that Carter is a more mature version of the gorgeous man he
remembered from high school.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carter Sullivan had played a starring role in Josh's fantasies starting
in the summer following ninth grade. Josh had just started realizing that he
liked looking at boys a little more than he cared to look at girls, and Carter
was one of the finest male specimens Josh had seen. Josh, who didn't even
particularly like the beach, spent almost every day there with his friends to
see the older boy who was working as a lifeguard before leaving for college.
Josh remembered ogling the lean muscles he was a long way from developing; his
body had been that of a growing boy, while Carter’s had been anything but. Back
then, Carter’s dark blond hair was worn in a closely cropped buzz cut. His skin
was covered in a golden tan from hours spent in the sun working, followed by
more hours in the sun surfing.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Little
does Josh know that he’ll actually get recognized. Upon leaving the courtroom,
he hears the door open behind him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It was Carter.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Josh gasped in surprise and his mind went completely blank. Thankfully,
Carter spoke first.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey, uh, Josh, right?” Carter rubbed his hand along the back of his
neck, and it almost looked like a nervous gesture.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It was an easy question. He could respond to an easy question like a
normal human being.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yea-up.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Or not. What the hell was that? Josh’s brain had clearly turned to mush
in the last ten seconds. He had to try to salvage the situation. Clearing his
throat, he tried again. “I mean, yes, that’s me. Carter, right?”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holding his hand out, Carter’s face broke into a warm, genuine smile.
“Yeah, man. How’s it going?”</i></div>
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They make plans to get together, and their age gap becomes
painfully apparent to Josh.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“He’s here. Please don’t embarrass me, Mom.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Okay, okay. I’m just gonna …” Josh pointed over his shoulder to the
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doorstep.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 28.35pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His eyes crinkled as his lips curled up into a smile. “Hey,” he said.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carter dressed in casual clothing was quite a sight. He wore dark jeans
and a black tee, along with some chucks. From under the right sleeve Josh could
see a hint of a tattoo peeking out.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Um, hi,” Josh responded, his eyes drifting over Carter until a throat
cleared behind him. He opened the door wider and gestured inside. “Come on in.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Thanks,” he said, stepping past Josh into the hallway and coming face
to face with his mother.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hello, dear, I'm Josh's mom.” Of course, she introduced herself in a
way that made him sound as if he was five years old and going on a play date.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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From there, the boys begin spending more time together, but
are plagued by prolonged separation and bouts of insecurity. Will Josh be able
to move past his self-doubt and make his schoolboy fantasies come true with
Carter?</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Notice to
Appear will be released as part of the Second Chances anthology on August 31<sup>st</sup>
2012 by Bottom Drawer Publications. Second Chances can be purchased here:<span style="color: yellow;"> <a href="http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/#!book-detail-pages/vstc4=second-chances">Second Chances</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXfCfqo6qgq8MhIBtz7OuI24EqCIe5U6BcoMdsqM858GdG8lsgb9nYarVM3gtvYrh5v4hj6dDTOe8CTtYFqNBG7DZ8bKxr4yegTtq4yOSfahXAVJlWmwiB4NjxkxESISV7yiVVMyFtkXN/s1600/Second_Chances_Final_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXfCfqo6qgq8MhIBtz7OuI24EqCIe5U6BcoMdsqM858GdG8lsgb9nYarVM3gtvYrh5v4hj6dDTOe8CTtYFqNBG7DZ8bKxr4yegTtq4yOSfahXAVJlWmwiB4NjxkxESISV7yiVVMyFtkXN/s400/Second_Chances_Final_Cover.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">C.C., thank you so much for dropping by and telling us about Josh and Carter! I can't wait to pick up my copy later on today! </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></i></span></div>
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Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-40482945447569390832012-08-22T01:17:00.000-04:002012-08-22T01:17:16.561-04:00Guest Post - Trails of Love I Crawl by Ciaran Dwynvil<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Today I'd like to welcome author Ciaran Dwynvil to the blog to tell us about her new release -<i>Trails of Love I Crawl</i>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: red;">****** </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgfyTf9iDSKLNqgMA6DKCR79HKyx64keB-ejICTBpJGseUTUSOra6X-kKaS7Ehb3uIm19n4M26Yar5ETYcS-RVAfDWxdjjwlYNwcRHUcem9NqLTa5kzUpF0gE0SYLSm8nkxpd0D0eyM4Q/s1600/Trails+of+Love+I+Crawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgfyTf9iDSKLNqgMA6DKCR79HKyx64keB-ejICTBpJGseUTUSOra6X-kKaS7Ehb3uIm19n4M26Yar5ETYcS-RVAfDWxdjjwlYNwcRHUcem9NqLTa5kzUpF0gE0SYLSm8nkxpd0D0eyM4Q/s400/Trails+of+Love+I+Crawl.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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First of all, I'd like to
thank Layne for giving me an opportunity to come to her blog to talk
about my writing and my book Trails of Love I Crawl, a recently
published gay erotic fantasy romance. Now, where do I put the word
paranormal? The genre description is already four words long...
</div>
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<br />
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<span lang="en-US">Hmm, let's leave the
genre as it is and move onto what you can expect in my books: I
always say that t</span>he characters in my novels lead their own
lives and I’m their happy scribe. <span lang="en-US">It's true. At
the quiet midnight hours they come and speak to me. They have a story
they want to share and I'm the lucky one who they have chosen to
write it for them. </span>The <span lang="en-US">way me and them
narrate their fortunes</span> will best resonate with thoughtful
readers for whom plots and emotions are just as important (if not
more) than the erotic aspect of the tales. T<span lang="en-US">he way
my characters speak tends to use poetic, figurative language which is
best suited for times long passed.</span></div>
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If somebody asked me why
I've chosen to write gay romance, there are two answers for this
question. I believe that love between two men is equally beautiful
and deserves the same rights as love between a man and a woman;
including the right to be portrayed in books written with skills and
so passionately that they will never be forgotten. That's my belief
as a person. And me as a writer must say that I write gay romance
because many of my beloved characters are gays. It's a part of their
lives and the stories they want to tell.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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The reasons and
circumstances under which characters come into my life can have their
triggers in everyday events around us. W<span lang="cs-CZ">hen it
comes to </span>Trails of Love I Crawl, <span lang="cs-CZ">it </span>was
a case when a distant acquaintance of mine searched for a cure for
her gay son. That <span lang="cs-CZ">night</span> Am<span lang="cs-CZ">édée
and Lucien first came to me to with their story. Both me and them
thought it would be a short one, but then </span>High Demon Belial,
the Prince of Trickery, the Lord of Lust and the Antilight, <span lang="cs-CZ">made
his appearance and things changed for all of us. We</span>'ve been
thinking hard how to describe the book without giving spoilers.
Hopefully, we've succeeded:</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3495571939071526374" name="freeText16751464443754189983"></a>
<span style="font-style: italic;">What happens when a guardian of two young men in love is misguided in
his beliefs about gay relationships and sends his charges to a
reformatory? Amédée's and Lucien's first reactions are shock and
fear but they have no other choice than to submit to their guardian's
will. Viktor, a first class impostor and the co-owner of the fearful
institution, is ready to subject them to all kinds of painful
reformations. Or?</span><br style="font-style: italic;" /><br style="font-style: italic;" /><span style="font-style: italic;">The story of two star-crossed lovers soon
picks up the pace when Viktor realizes that he is not entirely immune
to Amédée's charms. And when High Demon Belial, the Prince of
Trickery, the Lord of Lust and the Antilight, takes an interest in
the innocent youths, events gather even more momentum. Are the
mortals ready to walk and crawl the trails of love? And what effects
will Belial's plays have on their destinies? Find out in this epic
story about the lust for life and love.</span><br /><br />You can get your copy
here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trails-Ciaran-Dwynvils-Writing-ebook/dp/B008Z4GYBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345262792&sr=8-1&keywords=trails+of+love+I+crawl" style="color: yellow;">Trails of Love I Crawl</a></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />For information about
the sequel to Trails of Love I Crawl, please, follow my blog at<span style="color: yellow;"></span> <a href="http://ciarandwynvil.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://ciarandwynvil.wordpress.com/</span></a> or
visit my web at <a href="http://www.ciarandwynvil.com/" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">http://www.ciarandwynvil.com/</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: red;">****** </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="color: white;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">Thanks so much, Ciaran, for stopping by! </span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Trails of Love I Crawl will be on a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trails-Ciaran-Dwynvils-Writing-ebook/dp/B008Z4GYBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345262792&sr=8-1&keywords=trails+of+love+I+crawl" style="color: yellow;">free promotion</a> on Amazon on Thursday, August </span>24, 2012. Check it out and be sure to leave Ciaran a review when you do! </div>
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Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-2055969586467907222012-08-18T00:12:00.000-04:002012-08-18T00:12:37.222-04:00N. R. Walker Guest Post<br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today, I'd like to welcome N.R. Walker, author of <a href="http://aafaf559dd1e6f0c15afc6665d9510b6/"><b style="color: yellow;"><i>Taxes and TARDIS</i></b></a>, to my blog! Not only is she a fabulous writer, she's also a dear friend, and I consider it an honor that she graciously agreed to join me for a post on the day of her new release. Without further ado, I'll turn it over to her:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> ******</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d like to thank the lovely Layne Faire
for inviting me to do a guest spot on her fantastic blog!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m here to discuss my new release Point
of No Return, which comes out August 18th. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So let me start with how the idea of
this story came to life.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d had the idea of a boxing story in my
head for while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the idea of
having strong, tough, kick-ass gay guys and that’s where this story
started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the original plot idea,
but as I started writing, the characters took the story in a different direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of being a boxing based story, Point
of No Return ended up more of a cop/detective story. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before I’d started writing, I knew my
main character Matthew Elliott was a cop, and I knew he was blond and handsome,
but I was somewhat stuck on his love interest. So I started trawling the web
for internet pictures, and I found him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Needless to say, he wasn’t exactly difficult to have in my head. ;-)</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs661tGFTgH2XhhutWx7Ug0owMKXPpHM2SEzTthgRFz8I33kfL2c6YZbbVRkrQP-_faKj-Mqxe-ZFa3wGHKd50UBcsFOivqDD_B53HqM5E72rRzB37c2GwlOWhyphenhyphenVUsEb4eBJN6plfmMkAv/s1600/Kira+for+Nic+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs661tGFTgH2XhhutWx7Ug0owMKXPpHM2SEzTthgRFz8I33kfL2c6YZbbVRkrQP-_faKj-Mqxe-ZFa3wGHKd50UBcsFOivqDD_B53HqM5E72rRzB37c2GwlOWhyphenhyphenVUsEb4eBJN6plfmMkAv/s320/Kira+for+Nic+post.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: red; text-align: center;">OMG He's delicious!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then I needed a name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The character was half Japanese-half Spanish
and I needed a name to reflect to this. The surname, Franco, being Spanish, was
a great fit because the boys at the gym would know him as Frankie. But he also
needed a first name that could be either male or female, so if the name slipped
out, Matt’s co-workers wouldn’t realize Matt was actually dating a man. The
name Kira worked for this very reason, and through some research I found Kira
Takeo was Japanese for Dark Warrior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was perfect.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so Kira Takeo Franco (aka Frankie)
was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fell in love with these two
boys. I know that’s cliché, all writer’s love their characters. But I adored
Kira. Yes, Matt is the main character, but it’s Kira who carries the story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a complete paradox; he’s strong and
resilient, yet completely adaptable. He can be brutal, lethal even, yet he’s
gentle and soothing. He anchors Matt, yet completely sets him free.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The action is fast, and there is
violence; Matt’s an LA narcotics detective, so it’s safe to assume it’s not a
fairytale style story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Disclaimer:
Fairytale, no. HEA, hell yes. I can’t read, let alone write, stories without
the fluffy, tooth-cavity inducing sweetness of a HEA.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOL</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s a mashed-up version of the blurb,
and an excerpt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy…</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcZrv3aWX0d5BA75rRUGRpok5hSBxy7XVRFl7JOsKu-LNyDiBD1pWAgXmgZZMKLtmL-cAAm8vJhecitWcyr8jZ5qHjnXaKTIh_A9JN1Gj7UihzlhgUgFlR2nrSdUSDsxpTN4od475z4a9/s1600/PoNR+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcZrv3aWX0d5BA75rRUGRpok5hSBxy7XVRFl7JOsKu-LNyDiBD1pWAgXmgZZMKLtmL-cAAm8vJhecitWcyr8jZ5qHjnXaKTIh_A9JN1Gj7UihzlhgUgFlR2nrSdUSDsxpTN4od475z4a9/s400/PoNR+cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet Matthew Elliot. Blond-haired, blue-eyed
and rugged good looks, he’s one of LA’s best detectives, and portrayed by the
media as the ‘Golden Boy’ of the Fab Four; a group of narcotics detectives
who’ve shut down drug-rings all over the city. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matt works hard, and after losing his
mom before he was just eighteen, he has dedicated his life to his job. His
partner Mitch, is the closest thing to family he has, and along with Kurt and
Tony, the other members of the Fab Four, there isn’t much hidden between them.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Except for the biggest secret Matt has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The secret he’s hidden from everyone. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He’s not the playboy as they’d all
believe. It’s not the women he wants at all.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Enter the half Spanish, half Japanese
boxing coach at the gym, Kira.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He was in there warming
up with a skipping rope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His cocoa-colored
torso flexed fluidly and his feet barely hit the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was agile for someone of his size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t huge, but he was tall with great
muscle definition.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He smiled when I walked
in and hung up the skipping rope on one of the hooks on the back wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried not to think about his smile or his
body, and needing a distraction, I started to strap my hands.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Like he seemed to
understand the effect he had on me, he was all business, though he still
smiled. He was still fucking beautiful, but he wasted no time on putting me on
the bag, only this time he didn’t hold it, so he wasn’t facing me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which was much better.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I found it easier to
concentrate when I wasn’t looking directly into his eyes.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He stood at my side and
corrected my footing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently my left
foot turned in, when I stood in position, making my right swing overcompensate.
</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">By the time my half
hour was up with him, he had improved my focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d hardly had time to think about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was good at what he did, of that there was no doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When I was done, he
threw my towel at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s better,
Detective,” he said, with a one-dimpled smile.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He had a sheen of sweat
over his shoulders, and his tank top barely covered him, his pecs, his
shoulders...</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yeah, it was.” I
pretended to wipe my face with my towel to cover the fact I’d just checked him
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“More focused today,”
he said.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I let out a nervous
laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Something like that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When I looked up at
him, he was staring at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, I almost
got a real smile,” he said with a smirk.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I could feel myself
blush. Fucking hell. I couldn’t help smile a little. “Almost.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I think you should
call me Kira,” he said, matter-of-factly.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Why?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Because it’s my first
name,” he said with a shrug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And
everyone here calls me Frankie.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 34.0pt; margin-right: 34.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He must have seen the
confusion on my face, because he clarified. “See, if you tell your friends at
work you’re having dinner with Frankie, they’ll know it’s me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you tell them you’re having dinner
with Kira, they won’t have a clue.”</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both men feel the immediate connection
between them, and they soon start seeing each other outside of the gym. They
also agree that to reveal their relationship, and sexual orientation, would be
detrimental to their jobs. But as they fall in love, Matt finds this secret
harder to keep, especially from his partner, Mitch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He couldn’t have imagined being outted
as a gay man would be the least of his problems.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Point of No Return is released on August
18<sup>th</sup> 2012 with Silver Publishing.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can buy it here:</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: yellow;"> </span></span><b style="color: yellow;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></i></b></span><a href="https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/1186/?zenid=aafaf559dd1e6f0c15afc6665d9510b6"><b style="color: yellow;"><i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BuyPoint of No Return</span></span></i></b></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> ******</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh wow! this sounds fantastic! I can't wait to get my copy later on today! Make sure you check out <i><b><a href="http://nrwalker.blogspot.com.au/" style="color: yellow;">N.R. Walker's blog</a> </b></i>for more details about her upcoming releases, works in progress, and an outstanding free read. </span></span></div>
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Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495571939071526374.post-25305078664305970632012-06-10T01:07:00.003-04:002012-06-10T02:04:29.531-04:00NOW. . . what do I post?*steps gingerly into my pretty new blog*<br />
<br />
Wow! I love what she did with the place!<br />
<br />
I must, in my first post, thank the lovely Lisa for my beautiful new home! I'm so excited! I love having new toys to play with *waggles eyebrows*.<br />
<br />
This will be the go to place for information about all of my writing - both fanfiiction and original. I'll try to keep it up to date and organized, and for the times when there isn't any news, well, I'm adding a page full of eye candy. I can't wait to get to know everyone, so come in, take a look around, pull up a seat. The bar is in the corner, and make sure you play nice with each other. Oh . . . and don't abuse the pretties.<br />
<br />
Just a bit of picspiration for what I'm working on now -- a little more from the boys in <i>Will You Drive My Sleigh Tonight.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FbvBWO80if2eiMxWXRL2APZbcf1DaefuH3MDZiR0XtYNHChzyZN6W4jNzlwv3x7I-NF-sejaaBwvbqzyftPUM-agMLGP_CAXpSJXoKXqBizRoOMZI9zGU7jTXMf0ESC442J-G08bcIRa/s1600/Em+Jake+beanbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FbvBWO80if2eiMxWXRL2APZbcf1DaefuH3MDZiR0XtYNHChzyZN6W4jNzlwv3x7I-NF-sejaaBwvbqzyftPUM-agMLGP_CAXpSJXoKXqBizRoOMZI9zGU7jTXMf0ESC442J-G08bcIRa/s400/Em+Jake+beanbag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Layne Fairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795840512638888402noreply@blogger.com0