Book Name: Trouble Comes in Threes
Goodreads Link
Author Name: M.A. Church
Its Interview time with M.A. Church. Let’s sit back and watch the fur fly (so to speak):
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Q. The synopsis paints an adorable picture. What was the inspiration behind your story?
I actually started this story as a flash for New Year’s. I planned for it to be a simple little scene about a disgruntled guy alone for the holiday. As I got into it, I found he (Kirk) had a reason for being frustrated with his life. At age forty, he’d quit his job and started a business out of his home as a mechanic, and was struggling to get by. That’s a huge risk, especially for a man of his age. Kirk worked long hours. I mean, he was barely making it.
That led to his partner breaking up with him right before Christmas. I know, right? Who does that??? As the year progressed, every blessed appliance in his home broke.
As I was writing all this, Kirk snarked at me that trouble came in threes, and he was just waiting for number three to show up and kick him in the balls.
Then a wicked snowstorm hits the South and these two cats show up. Tenderhearted Kirk can barely feed himself, but he still takes the cats in… and there’s number three, lol, and the title for the story.
Q. Writing believable threesomes can be tricky. How do you make the readers buy into the relationship between three men/shifters?
The story revolves around balance in a relationship. Dolf and Tal are an established couple, but when Kirk joins the relationship, he brings a balance they all needed. He isn’t the third; he’s the glue that binds them even more tightly. And Dolf and Tal bring something Kirk needs too.
Keeping up with who is doing what to who is one thing. Then throw in each character’s feelings and things can get hairy quick, lol. But since balance is an important theme for this, I needed all three to show their inner thoughts.
Q. Just the idea of rescued cats will have people ‘awwing”, that’s will make this story instantly connectable. How did you build your shifter culture for this story?
I took the basic components of wolf packs but tweaked it to match more of what I had in mind for this world. There’s still the Alpha/Betas/Omega role, but in Trouble, you have paranormals who make their own laws, have a government, and devise punishments suited to their kind. The paranormals in each territory vote for which elected Alpha was on the ballot. The winner led that territory, and his title was territory leader. They were like human governors.
There are five territories in the US: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Island, and Western Zones. Those five territory leaders joined with other territory leaders from around the world to make up the Alliance of Paranormals, which had over a hundred members. They had the power to change laws voted in by territory leaders. It’s like the human’s Supreme Court just on a bigger scale. This group makes all the decisions regarding paranormal.
Q. Is this a stand alone or do you plan more in this universe?
Oh, there’s more coming, lol. I’m working on the second book, which is called Behind the Eight Ball.
Q. What came first? Title or plot?
LOL, well, the plot came first and that inspired the title.
Q. Why a threesomes? What about that particular dynamic speaks to you?
In Trouble, you get each man’s viewpoint, and that’s important to this story. It’s hard enough to make it work with just two, but three? But they don’t avoid rough times. In fact, they start right off the bat. Kirk makes it plain he won’t be the ‘third’ in a relationship. Neither will he be a patch to any sexual problems the two of them might have. But that’s what this is about: balance.
As the story unfolds, he comes to understand that each man is an equal in the triad and brings something to the table. It’s all about balance with these three—each man fills a need in the others.
Q. What was the toughest thing about writing this story?
Getting the worldbuilding down, and making sure it made sense. I love it, and I hate it. Worldbuilding makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, but it also keeps me up nights, tossing and turning, lol.
I firmly believe there has to be an element of realism even to things that don’t exist. I also think…. Oh, um, I seem to have someone tapping me on the shoulder here and…. I see. *glares at the person* Okay, fine!
So, Dolf, one of the characters, said just because we don’t *think* they exist doesn’t mean they don’t. *Sigh* That’s the thing about cats. They are opinionated and gotta have the last word, lol.
8. The easiest?
*Snort* Dealing with this group? Writing the end was the most satisfying, lol. The book gave me fits. I ripped it to shreds, moved whole pages, cut things, added stuff, screamed, cried, and drove my betas completely insane. Which they would tell you is nothing new when dealing with me.
*snicker* Poor betas.
9. What’s next for M.A. Church?
Right now, I’m putting the finishing touches on The Harvest: Journey’s End. It’s due out in early January. Along with that, I’m working on Behind the Eight Ball. This is book 2 in the Fur, Fangs, and Felines series and is about Heller. He’s one of the betas in Trouble Comes in Threes and he really, really does not like humans. *raises eyebrow* Their goddess has plans for Heller, lol.
~art work done by August (Gus) Li
Author Bio:
M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!
When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children.
She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013.
Author Contact:
Drop by her blog at http://machurch00.blogspot.com/
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback
Blurb:
A snowstorm in the South—on New Year’s Eve—is a perfect recipe for a catastrophe. After two soul-crushing bad breaks, Kirk’s waiting for disaster number three to strike when naturally, two stray cats arrive on his doorstep during the storm and decide to make themselves at home. Tenderhearted Kirk lets them stay even though there’s something decidedly odd about his overly friendly felines.
Out of the punishing weather, and full of tuna, Dolf and Tal are happy to be snug in Kirk’s house. But then their human goes outside for firewood and suffers a nasty fall that leaves him unconscious. Now the two cats have no choice but to reveal themselves.
Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal. They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.
Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Menage/Poly, Paranormal, Romance
Excerpt:
Dolf picked out the saw he wanted, then followed Tal to another aisle. His mate pointed out the different kinds, but Tal’s words had rapidly faded into a meaningless buzz. There, on the air currents in the store, was the sweetest scent. It was light and flowery, reminding him of honeysuckle. He breathed deeply, taking the scent into himself. His cock hardened immediately and his head spun. A yowl threatened to escape.
That scent… that scent was seductive and alluring. It spoke to him, whispering things that made him need. His cat paced frantically in his mind, tail slashing madly. The need to pounce, to sink his canines in and drink that sweet, life-giving blood of his…. His gums tingled and saliva flooded his mouth.
He swallowed, then swallowed again as his head pounded, his heart rate spiking as one thought screamed through his mind: Mate! Another mate! Where was that scent coming from? Or who? And by the goddess, why? He already had a mate. What was their goddess thinking, giving him another? But he couldn’t ignore the reaction. It had been the same when he met Tal.
Pages: 234
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