McKay on Writing in Tandem and their latest release Striking Sparks by Ari McKay (author guest blog)

Striking Sparks by Ari McKay
Dreamspinner Press

Cover by Paul Richmond
Purchase it Here

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have one of the authors that are Ari McKay here today answering questions and talking about their latest release, Striking Sparks, a Dreamspun Desire title from Dreamspinner Press. Welcome McKay!

Hi, everyone! I’m the McKay half of Ari McKay, and I’m happy to be here with a guest post at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in honor of our upcoming release from Dreamspinner Press, Striking Sparks.

I’ve got a few interview questions I’d like to answer, and while I’ll mostly be answering from my own perspective, I’ve known Ari long enough (twelve years and counting) that I can speak for her on some things as well.

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?

We’re a mix of both. When we begin a new book, we develop the characters first and then flesh out the plot. We start with the characters since their motives and relationship will drive the action, and we figure out what their dynamic is going to be. For example, Beau and Jake start out as rivals in Striking Sparks. An argument they had in high school shaped the men they’ve become, and the words they said to each other in anger color their interactions at first. So our main goal was to figure out how we were going to move them past the old hurts and into a new understanding.

For less action-heavy books, we tend to create a loose outline and then dive in and see where the story takes us. A lot of times, the characters will throw in wrenches we didn’t expect, and we have to reshape the story to accommodate that. Ari and I both agree that listening to what the characters want is better than trying to force them to fit our preconceived ideas of what the story “should” be. Inevitably, the finished story is stronger if we let the story develop in the way that feels most right and natural for the characters.

But there are some books that require more rigorous planning. Several of our Herc’s Mercs books were plotted out in advance, and while we did leave wiggle room for changes, we knew where we were going to start, where we were going to end up, and (more or less) how we were going to get there before we started writing. That series has more action-adventure elements, so we needed to decide on the main plot points beforehand in order to work toward each one in a way that would make sense and develop the characters’ relationship along the way.

Can an author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

I think it’s fine for an author to have favorite characters. I’d be surprised if there were many authors who didn’t! Maybe a character is a favorite because they were easy to write or because the book was written during a time in the author’s life that they have fond memories of in general, so there’s this positive association. Maybe the character embodies what the author would like to be themselves. Maybe the character is just plain likable, flaws and all. Whatever the reason, I think most of us do have characters that we enjoy(ed) writing more than others.

As you can probably tell from my answer to the previous question, Ari and I view our characters more as muses than as toys in a sandbox. We don’t pick them up and move them around exactly the way we want; we get in their heads to figure out who they are, and we listen to their voices.

Sometimes, their voices are really, really loud.

For us, the loudest characters are often our favorites. They make their desires clear and tell us exactly what they want to do and say, which makes writing them more like taking dictation than pulling teeth.

Some of my favorite characters are also the ones I had fun writing, often because they were funny or because they were significantly different from me, and I had fun slipping inside their skin and being outrageous in ways I’m not in real life.

Ari and I have a few favorite characters and couples out of our body of work, but I think if we had to choose an ultimate favorite, it would be Daryl and Emerson from Herc’s Mercs: Bloody But Unbowed. They’re an “opposites attract” couple, but they clicked so well, and we had fun writing them snarking at each other.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

Jane Eyre is my first choice. I’ve loved that book since I was thirteen years old, and I’ve read it many times over the years. To this day, I admire Jane’s fierce independence. The line “Reader, I married him” tells you everything you need to know about her and her strong sense of agency – and why I love her.

I’d take my complete collection of Jane Austen’s novels. Who doesn’t love a delicate skewering of 19^th century social conventions? If I could take Stephen King’s entire body of work, I would. If not, I’d go with Carrie, The Stand, and his short story/novella collections. I’d have to throw in some Gail Carriger, Jaqueline Carey, and Kelly Link too. There are others (there are always “oh, and—!” books and authors when talking to a bookworm), but those are the ones I’d pick today. Tomorrow, it might be different! Except for Jane Eyre. That one is always first.

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

Oh, we draw inspiration from just about anything! We refer to being inspired as having a plot bunny gnawing on our ankles. We’ve gotten inspiration from real life events, books, movies, song lyrics, art… you name it! With Striking Sparks, we were inspired by photos of Paul Newman and Robert Redford as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Those two men were ruggedly hot together, and we wanted to write a couple of cowboys based on them. In the end, our characters grilled the beef instead of herded it, but they’re both macho Texans. Jake is based on Newman and Beau is based on Redford (without the mustache).

Striking Sparks will be released by Dreamspinner Press on December 15^th. We hope you enjoy it! Happy holidays from both of us to all of you!

About Striking Sparks

The stakes are high and the heat is on.

Beau Walker, owner of the Barbecue Shack, needs the help of Jake Parnell, his one-time rival and secret crush, in a televised barbecue competition. Beau is a proud man, but the stakes are high, and smart, sexy Jake is his only hope, even if being around Jake reawakens the attraction he’s fought for years.

Jake left his hometown, determined to build a life somewhere his sexuality wouldn’t hurt his family’s restaurant business—and far away from hunky, obstinate Beau Walker. Then his twin, Josh, is killed, and Jake returns to support his brother’s wife and children. Despite his reservations, he agrees to go head-to-head against Beau on national television. Between stress and grief, as well as pride and determination, only one thing is certain—the heat between Beau and Jake extends well beyond the kitchen.

About the Authors

Ari McKay is the professional pseudonym for Arionrhod and McKay, who have been writing together for over a decade. Their collaborations encompass a wide variety of romance genres, including contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, gothic, and action/adventure. Their work includes the Blood Bathory series of paranormal novels, the Herc’s Mercs series, as well as two historical Westerns: Heart of Stone and Finding Forgiveness. When not writing, they can often be found scheming over costume designs or binge watching TV shows together.

Arionrhod is a systems engineer by day who is eagerly looking forward to (hopefully) becoming a full time writer in the not-too-distant future. Now that she is an empty-nester, she has turned her attentions to finding the perfect piece of land to build a fortress in preparation for the zombie apocalypse, and baking (and eating) far too many cakes.

McKay is an English teacher who has been writing for one reason or another most of her life. She also enjoys knitting, reading, cooking, and playing video games. She has been known to knit in public. Given she has the survival skills of a gnat, she’s relying on Arionrhod to help her survive the zombie apocalypse.

Arionrhod and McKay

CONTACTS:

Website: http://arimckay.wordpress.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ari-Mckay/266185570179748

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ari.mckay.7

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AriMcKay1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6153630.Ari_McKay

Grace Kilian Delaney on Writing and her release ‘Seven Minutes’ (author interview)

Seven Minutes by Grace Kilian Delaney
Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: December 7, 2016
Cover art by Reese Dante

Available for purchase at

Grace Kilian Delaney author of Seven Minutes is here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words talking about Seven Minutes, her latest release, and answering questions on writing. Welcome, Grace!

~Our Grace Kilian Delaney Interview~

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal? People, occupations, myths, experiences, and sometimes a turn of words can set off a story in my head. I used to love hair metal as a kid and thought the kids who liked heavy metal–not hair bands like I did–were cooler, even though I couldn’t get into Metallica (I still feel guilty over that). I gave Stone that. He was one of those growly metal singers everyone would’ve found cool, mean, and angry. Devon, who is definitely more light-hearted, is perfectly comfortable with dressing as a woman or a man and feels confident and sexy either way. With him, I dove into the side of myself that struggled with dressing and acting like a girl. I loved that Devon just accepted himself as is and wished I’d felt as liberated from gender conformity at his age.
Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why? I plan. My first novel is in the rewrite stage for the third time–maybe you can guess why I plan now? I find that having a basic outline and some scene ideas written down keeps me focused, even if I don’t end up in the direction I initially thought. I allow myself that flexibility. When I first began Seven Minutes I learned who Stone and Devon were, after some intense character exploration and helpful ideas from my friend, Paige Gabriel. From there I devised an outline for the story. After that point, beta readers and friends helped me keep the story focused and characters acting within their nature. Much thanks to them!
Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else? Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so? I think the heart of any story is in the characters; the setting can be any place so long as the characters are well written. That being said, I prefer contemporary and supernatural romances. Fellow Dreamspinner author Santino Hassell does an amazing job exploring various personalities humanity in his Five Boroughs Series, as does Nicola Haken in Broken. I haven’t read enough supernatural m/m romance, though The Necromancer’s Dance and its sequel by SJ Himes were quite good. Oisin, Devon’s best friend (pronounced “ocean”), is touched with the gift of premonition, something I learned when exploring his character after writing Seven Minutes. I recently finished his story, which should be released sometime next year.
Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why? I actually remember throwing a temper tantrum when I was in elementary school because I had to read a book and write a book report. My frustration with reading changed by sixth grade, where I surpassed the expected reading grade level. I remember a book I loved at that age was The Golem in the Gears, a pure fantasy/adventure novel, where dust bunnies were a real, living thing—that sold me! From there, I got into Anne Rice’s vampire series, Stephen King’s The Shining and Pet Sematary, and Dean Koontz. Yeah, I was into hair bands and loved to be scared.
What question would you ask yourself here? Why do I write in first person? I feel I get to know the character and what’s going on inside of his head better, though it is difficult maintaining different attributes and expressions for each character. I’ve heard of method acting and I imagine its a bit like that. I get to be these people for a moment in time and it’s perfectly sane as a writer (is a sane writer an oxymoron?). I haven’t ruled out third person and may attempt something with voice in the future.
If you were writing your life as a romance novel, what would the title be? Love at Second Sight. I’d known my husband for three years and never thought of him on a romantic level. After not seeing him for months, we just happened to bump into each other at a club. I swear when I looked at him that night I thought “I’m going to marry him.” We’ve been together since. (Plot bunny, anyone?)

About Seven Minutes

Can love be found in seven minutes?

Heavy metal singer Stone Manson never acknowledged his attraction to men. But when he meets sexy cross-dresser Devon at a party and ends up paired with him for a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven, he can’t deny his reaction. His confusion leads him to mess up—big time—with Devon, but after some soul-searching, he decides to do everything in his power to show Devon how he feels.

Devon doesn’t make a habit of dating closeted men, and he isn’t about to be anyone’s experiment. It’ll take a lot to convince him that Stone is serious about a relationship, but Stone is certainly giving it his best effort—and Devon is warming up to the idea of the hot, tattooed rock star in his bed, and maybe even in his life. And when a threat from Devon’s past reemerges, Stone might offer just the support Devon needs to get through it.

Excerpt

Stone

We walked into the dimly lit hallway. In the half-light, Devon’s features softened. He was… beautiful. Honestly and naturally beautiful. For the first time in fucking months, my dick decided to come to life. WTF. But he had these perfect lips that begged to be kissed, I swear. They looked so soft. And his fair skin would make any supermodel jealous. How’d he get so clean-shaven? Wax? Women waxed their mustaches…. Did he?

Internal bells and warnings went off, reminding me Devon was not a woman… well, he lacked feminine parts, but that probably didn’t make him less of a woman. I mean, women get hysterectomies and mastectomies and they are still women. So what if Devon didn’t have the parts? Everything else about him was pure feminine. Did I seriously just think that? I rambled. I never ramble.

I had seven minutes with the perfect excuse to explore these feelings. If Matty could grind away on emo boy without anyone thinking twice about it, then I could most definitely taste those lips.

“We don’t have to do anything.” He shifted, knotting his fingers together. “You seem pretty straight and—”

A loud yell came from the other room, reminding us to use tongue.

“And I’m not. So no pressure.”

Devon sucked in his bottom lip, dragging his top teeth against it. He looked scared shitless, like I might pummel him for being stuck here with me. His gaze darted around in the semidarkness. It hit some trigger inside of me, some protective urge. I’d seen that look as a kid: the fearful expression of waiting for a beating. Seeing it on his beautiful face twisted my gut.

No one better ever fucking hurt you, kid. I’d make sure of it.

He gave me the out I had hoped for. Sure, I could hang here for a few more minutes and remain completely safe, never knowing what his lips tasted like, or if his body felt as feminine as it looked, or what those long fingers felt like stroking my back—

Aw, fuck it.

My heart jumped into my throat as I leaned in and kissed him. Those intoxicating lips tasted of vanilla and a hint of the sugary margarita thing he drank. I kissed him some more, sucking on his bottom lip, running my tongue across it. He let out an approving groan, and damn if that didn’t make my dick swell. I sucked harder, and then I nipped. More sounds, moans, encouraging me to continue. Ignoring the part of my brain reminding me Devon was a dude with dude junk dangling between his legs, I parted his lips with my tongue, forcefully diving into his mouth as if he supplied my oxygen and I couldn’t get enough air.

My limbs electrified as he slammed me against the wall, pressing his hips and his groin against mine. Fucking turned me on to be thrown like that. I grabbed his waist, pulling him closer as I continued plundering his mouth. A low, hungry growl rumbled as he rutted against my jean-covered cock. Painfully hard, I welcomed the friction of those hips, wishing I could bury myself inside of him. Him. Fuck. I couldn’t feel his dick, and it disappointed me. I reached down to his front, risking being swatted away—I mean, how fucking rude is that to grab someone’s junk when KISS and TONGUE were the directions? Through our kisses, I felt him smiling.

“Let’s save that for later, sweetie.” He lapped my bottom lip before biting it just enough to shoot a jolt of pleasure straight to my groin. Holy. Fuck. I swear that move was so fucking hot, my lip blistered from the heat.

I dove in again, kissing him, running my hands along his lithe frame, feeling the curves of his body, his pert ass, forgetting all about the seven minutes until the annoying voices from the other room yelled.

“Time’s up!”

Devon broke off the kiss, eyes wild and dilated. A mischievous know-it-all grin shone on his face. I stole another kiss, feeling a sense of pride knowing his lips were swollen because of me. I kissed a boy and I liked it. And I didn’t know what in fuck to do with that information… aside from push it down.

About the Author

Grace Kilian Delaney lives somewhere in paradise—mentally. In the wee hours of the morning, and with an audience of a dog and two cats, she writes about hot and horny men. Thankfully the animals don’t care if she talks to herself, which she does albeit quietly as to not wake her husband. When not writing words, Grace can be found composing music, pretending she’s an opera singer, playing piano, twisting herself into yoga positions, or sweating it out at the gym.

FaceBook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/GraceKilianD

Twitter:

@GraceKilianD

BLOG

http://Gracekiliandelaney.wordpress.com

Amazon Author Link:

http://amazon.com/author/gracekiliandelaney

In Our Author Spotlight: Julia Talbot on Catching Heir (Dreamspinner Press guest blog and author interview)

Catching Heir by Julia Talbot
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art by Bree Archer

Buy Links

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Julia Talbot here today to answer some of our author questions and talk about her release Catching Heir, one of Dreamspinner Press’ Dreamspun Desire titles, a favorite here at STRW. Welcome, Julia!

Hey y’all! My name is Julia Talbot, and I’m here today because of my first Dreamspun Desire, Catching Heir! It’s a missing heir tale of a professional snowboarder who inherits an old hotel in Colorado, and falls for the geeky hotel manager.

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

I usually start with a what if! What if there was this guy, or girl, and what if they wanted to find a jewel or a lover or a big cat? Then I go for the characters and the plot. Or I start with a title. What if a missing heir trope story was called Catching Heir because catching air is a snowboard term and the snowboarder inherits an old hotel?

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?

Oh, I used to be a pantzer. Then my wife found me kind of fiction equivalent of the five paragraph essay that worked so well for me in non-fiction academic writing. I can do discipline if you make it a game. Like Weight Watchers, right? So now I plot using, not a formula, but I sort of gant chart. It helps me make sure there’s at least some conflict, which I suck at.

If you had a character you’ve written you would write differently now at this time in your writing career, who would it be and why?

One of my very favorite books I’ve ever written, one of the characters has a terrible break up mid series. So many people loved the SO he broke up with, that if I had to do it again, I would start his story when he broke up, rather than letting people get to know the other guy.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

My Kindle is stocked for this now. Funny story, a snowstorm did strand me in Newark once, and I had to buy a Stephen King novel at the hotel. Now I carry a Kindle in my carry on with Sean Michael, BA Tortuga, Andrew Grey, Samantha Kane, and Joey W Hill stocked on it. Oh, and Stephen King.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

When I was seven I wrote a story for my grandma about powering the whole world with popcorn.

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I was an early reader, but I moved the summer between first grade and second, and went from a progressive school to a very conservative, religious area in North Carolina. They were still reading Dick and Jane, and I checked out for almost a year, stubbornly refusing to read. A book called Meg of Williamsburg, a mystery story much like Nancy Drew, but with a younger, hipper protagonist, drew me back in. I have a copy of it in my office. I love mysteries to this day because of it, and it got me reading for fun again.

Thanks so much for having me, and I hope y’all love Catching Heir!

XXOO

Julia

About Catching Heir

Is he in love with an old hotel—or its new owner?

Professional snowboarder Cullen Patrick is successful and kinda famous. So when he inherits an old Colorado hotel from an unknown relative, he really should leave well enough alone.

Matt Nathanson has been managing the Treeline Estates since college. He loved the elderly former owner, and he stands to inherit the place if no one claims it in the next week. Of course, Cullen shows up, and Matt thinks it’s time to move on. He doesn’t want to like Cullen, no matter how engaging the guy is, or how hunky.

Cullen has grand ideas for the Treeline, but he doesn’t want to implement them without Matt, and he’s not sure he’s ready to give up snowboarding. Can Matt convince Cullen that putting down roots is worth it… and maybe catch his heir at the same time?

About the Author

Julia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Samhain Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, and Changeling Press. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved. Find Julia at @juliatalbot on Twitter, or at http://www.juliatalbot.com

Website: www.juliatalbot.com
Twitter: @juliatalbot on Twitter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbotauthor

Ashavan Doyon Interview and The Rodeo Knight (Sam’s Cafe Romances #3) by Ashavan Doyon (giveaways)

The Rodeo Knight (Sam’s Cafe Romances #3) by Ashavan Doyon
Dreamspinner Press
Cover art by Bree Archer

Purchase Links

Today we have Ashavan Doyon, author of the recently released The Rodeo Knight here for an interview.

Thank you for having me today here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. I’m happy to be here to promote The Rodeo Knight, which released November 30, and also the first book in the series, The King’s Mate, which has a second edition that was also just released. I’m so lucky, because Dreamspinner Press also released all three novellas in the series as a print only anthology, The Chess Master Chronicles.

Are you a planner or a pantser when writing a story? And why?

I’m a total pantser. Most of the time I’m writing off a vague idea with only one character well defined, everything else flows from that. My problem is that when I’ve planned, my characters always rebel. And planning takes focus, energy, that ends up wasted, because you know your character is going to do x thing, and instead they upend the story and do something totally different. The Rodeo Knight is really the closest I’ve gotten to “planning” a story in a long time, because I sold the pitch for the story in advance at a conference, so I absolutely had to have more than “I’m writing a sequel to A Wounded Promise” — I needed to have some sort of structure. So in addition to Brian, the main character, I wrote the blurb for the story, which also introduced the love interest Sylvester.

Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else? Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?

I love writing contemporary. I do some modern fantasy also, and I regularly release chapters of an ongoing modern fantasy serial on my blog. Sometimes when I write fan fiction I’ll go a little further afield. Reading is something else. I grew up on fantasy, and outside of reading in my genre (Sue Brown and Cindy Sutherland are favorites), a lot of what I read is stuff like The Riftwar Saga and The Belgariad. My mom read me The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as bedtime stories, so I blame her for that.

If you had a character you’ve written you would write differently now at this time in your writing career, who would it be and why?

You know, as an author I try to not read reviews. And I fail spectacularly most of the time. That means I know what people have said about my characters and I struggle a lot with people who want these mostly college aged characters to be something they’re not. I try to write characters who are human and real and feel that way. I often say that my characters tell me what to write and that mostly I’m just reporting. But I’m not perfect. I did go back and change how I wrote Justin for The King’s Mate. In the second edition, he’s a lot more confident and stumbles a lot less, and I think that makes him more consistent with his portrayal in A Wounded Promise, and it also makes the places where he feels broken more stark, because it’s that much more clear that in most of his life he’s doing okay.

One of the things I’ve tried to show in my stories is the range of parental acceptance, from Adam’s father in Gerry’s Lion with his loving acceptance of Gerry as a member of the family to the ultimatum Brian faced as discussed in The Rodeo Knight, to Chris being kicked out by his father when he turned eighteen in I Almost Let You. I think I might look at how I wrote some of the mothers, and maybe adjust that some. But at the same time, I think it’s important, especially now, to remember the proportion of kids who do get kicked out of their homes when they come out, and the epidemic of homelessness in the LGBT youth community. So maybe it’s better to write those stories and let the characters overcome that than pretend that every parent is going to be like Sam.

Can an author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

I think every author has some favorites. Of my Dreamspinner releases, as much as I love Justin and Sylvester, and I’m proud of how I wrote Brian, I think my favorite is probably Gerry. This was a man in love, a man grieving, and showing the depths of his love through that grief I thought made him a very powerful character.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

I’d pick LaGuardia (so I could charge my kindle) – that way I’d still have access to everything. Stuck on a dessert island? Probably The Lord of the Rings. I’ve been reading it over and over since I was kid and I’m still not sick of it.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

My mom has a ‘swoofs’ fanfic (it was a Smurfs storyline) that I wrote on her portable typewriter when I was about five.

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I think I mostly answered this. My mom was always told it was good to read to kids and that it didn’t matter what you read. So from the time I was tiny she read us all the books she liked. The Hobbit. The Dragonriders of Pern. Time of the Dark. Those were my bedtime stories. I read The Lord of the Rings on my own in first grade and I never looked back. My classmates would grumble that they couldn’t call me a book worm, book worms were slow. I was a book bird.

If you were writing your life as a romance novel, what would the title be?

I’ve considered sometimes writing the story of how I ended up with my husband as a romance novel, because there’s a lot of ways it would fit. For a title? “I know you probably hate me, but…” It’s the first line from a letter I wrote to my now husband. We had dated briefly when I was in college and for a slew of reasons, it didn’t work and I broke up with him. I decided life wasn’t worth having regrets about, so five years later I wrote him and poured my heart out in a letter. It’s probably the single most important piece of writing I’ve ever done in my life.

Thanks again to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting me, and I do hope you’ll check out those new releases. The Rodeo Knight is a particularly fun romp, and The King’s Mate, while it is a second edition, has 11,000 new words, making it almost twice the length of the original story!

I always love to hear from readers, please feel free to contact me, there’s a form to reach me at my website, which is in the contact information below!

Author Bio:

For fifteen years, Ashavan Doyon worked with students in the student affairs office of a liberal arts college. He recently decided to shake things up a little, and is now working in the publications and communications office at the college. During lunch, evenings, and when he can escape the grasp of his husband on weekends, he writes, pounding out words day after day in hopes that his ancient typewriter-trained fingers won’t break the glass on his tablet computer. Ashavan is an avid science fiction and fantasy fan and prefers to write while listening to music that fits the mood of his current story. He has no children, but lavishes attention on his sole remaining fur child, a very elderly pug. A Texan by birth, he currently lives in New England, and frequently complains of the weather.

Ashavan went to school at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, getting his degree in Russian and East European Studies, with a focus in language and literature. He has two incomplete manuscripts from college that he goes back compulsively to fiddle with every so often, but is still not happy with either of them. He still loves fantasy and science fiction and reads constantly in the moments between writing stories.

You can find me online at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashavandoyon.writer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashavandoyon

Web: www.ashavandoyon.com

The King’s Mate

2nd Edition

Sam’s Café Romances: Book One

Russell Pine comes to Sam’s Café every morning to enjoy the best coffee in town and to chat with Sam Tesh, the owner, a loyal friend for the past twenty years. When Sam offers him a challenge, Russ reluctantly takes it on, acting as the master opponent in a chess tournament. As the days pass and the hopefuls fall to the chess mastermind one by one, Russ discovers that the contest isn’t the only game being played.

Russ finds himself the focus of a secret courtship through words and pictures left for him to discover each morning. Will a hint of cologne on the paper lead him to his admirer? In a café full of young and beautiful minds, who is looking at the graying chess master?

First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, June 2013.

Buy link:

The King’s Mate (Dreamspinner): https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-kings-mate-by-ashavan-doyon-7831-b

The King’s Mate (Amazon):

https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Mate-Sams-Café-Romances-ebook/dp/B01N8XXY02/

The Chess Master Chronicles (Dreamspinner)

Sam’s Cafe Romances books 1-3, print only:

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-chess-master-chronicles-by-ashavan-doyon-7830-b

The Rodeo Knight

Sam’s Café Romances: Book Three

Struck by amnesia after a car crash, Brian Stouten has been living a life laid out by his family, a heterosexual life that just doesn’t fit. When he learns it was all a lie, he returns to the small college town that’s his only clue to his past. But the town is still unfamiliar, and the man he’d hoped would make all his memories return is on a honeymoon with another man. To add insult to injury, everyone thinks Brian died in the crash. It’s only when an out-of-place cowboy asks to bum a smoke that Brian realizes this trip was meant to be.

Sylvester Thomas has always fought a secret desire, and done it successfully. But when geeky Brian offers him a smoke and a light, a simple brush of hands has Sylvester’s hidden passions burning deep. Did he make a mistake letting Brian walk away?

Buy link:

The Rodeo Knight (Dreamspinner): https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-rodeo-knight-by-ashavan-doyon-7832-b

The Rodeo Knight (Amazon):

https://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Knight-Sams-Café-Romances-ebook/dp/B01N8PT65D/

The Chess Master Chronicles (Dreamspinner)

Sam’s Cafe Romances books 1-3, print only:

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-chess-master-chronicles-by-ashavan-doyon-7830-b

Scotty Cade on Writing and His Latest Release ‘Only Forever’ (Guest Author Interview)

Only Forever by Scotty Cade
Dreamspinner Press

Master Captain Theodore Gourdin has always loved the ocean. But his devotion to maritime life left little possibility for a long-term relationship. After two failed marriages and numerous unsuccessful relationships, Theo gave up on finding the person who completed him and decided the sea was his soul mate. When offered the opportunity to captain the newly launched megayacht Eternity, Theo jumped at the chance. With Eternity’s maiden voyage looming, Theo focused all his energies on hiring his crew and readying his ship. The last thing he expected was to finally lose his heart in the process.

After twelve years at sea, First Officer Heath Rawlins was restless and in need of a change. A gay seaman’s life could be a lonely one, but to Heath the positives far outweighed the negatives. With excellent recommendations and an impressive résumé, he was quickly offered a position on the private megayacht Eternity. Heath’s heart skipped several beats when he finally met the ship’s captain. He was handsome and charming. And… familiar? Had they met somewhere before? Highly unlikely. But as smitten as Heath was with the gorgeous captain, everything inside him screamed, Abandon ship! Rough seas ahead!

**

~

Hi Kids,

Scotty Cade here. First off I’d like to thank Melanie and everyone over at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for giving me the opportunity to be with you again. I love giving you a sneak peak into my latest books and offer you a little insight into my world of creativity. I hope you enjoy this interview and as always feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line if you have any additional questions. Oh and I almost forgot—read on for an excerpt and a chance to win an eBook.

Here we go:

From where did the inspiration for “Only Forever” come? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

Actually all of the above. I’m almost certain it has happened to you as well, but a few times in my life I have met a person that I feel a very strong connection to. It doesn’t have to be romantic, although it can be, but the bond is almost instant. I believe that I have known that person before. We are old souls reconnecting. Am I experiencing a memory? Absolutely. Is it a former place or journey? I say hell yeah. Is it personal? Without a doubt. Without getting all Zen on you, I’m a firm believer that our life here on earth is just one stop along the way in our spiritual journey.

When writing this story, were you a planner or a pantzer? And why?

I’m usually a planner. I’m somewhat OCD and all my ducks need to be in a row for me to relax and clear my head, so I plan my work and work my plan. Now that doesn’t mean my stories always turns out the way I’d planned. Many don’t, but that’s how it starts out. For this book, it came to me so fast I had no time to plan. I sat at my computer and started typing. It’s short of a novel at just under fifty thousand words, but that’s because it wasn’t planned. When I typed “The End,” I could have gone back and added a few more chapters, but it just didn’t feel right. It was Heath and Theo’s story and they deserved it to be without distractions or other useless fluff that might add words but nothing to the story.

Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?

Where writing is concerned, contemporary romance mixed with a little mystery is my favorite to write. The romantic mysteries are not my best sellers by far, but I so enjoy plotting them. My easy romance novels are the best sellers. The novels that deal with overcoming struggles, etc. are always a hit. I love writing them as well, but almost everything has been done at one time or another. Over and over again. So finding a way to add a new twist is hard. For the record, I hate angst. Especially in the way of cheating boyfriends or husbands so I normally avoid angst. If the story requires it, I add some, but its usually resolved pretty quickly. When it comes to reading, I love when love crosses boundaries. When people just fall in love with a person, not a sex. Its been referred to as “Gay for You,” so much it makes me cringe. I hate that term, but it is what it is. On the other hand, I believe people are born sexual and society most times determines who we’re supposed to love. It always seems so taboo when a supposed straight man is attracted to another man and I love when love or attraction win. Anyway I digress. But I love reading those stories the most.

If you had a character you’ve written you would write differently now, at this time in your writing career, who would it be and why?

I don’t think I would change one single character of miner. Between you and me, all of my characters, at one time or another, have been criticized harshly. They are either too sweet, too mean, too nice, too handsome, too smart, too insecure, too cocky, etc. You get my drift. Every character strikes a cord with a reader for one reason or another in a negative or positive way, but each of my characters are who they are. They called to me and I wrote about them and that’s that.

Can an author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

Wow! That’s a tough one. I LOVE all my characters but I connect more with the ones searching for something. For instance, “Losing Faith,” brings too characters together who are both searching for different things. But they help each other find what they need and find each other in the process. That to me is the ultimate. When I started that story I had no idea how it was going to end because I didn’t want it to be a cliché. I didn’t want them to fall in love because it had to be a novel with a HEA. I wanted them to either truly fall in love or become best of friends. Luckily for them, they fell in love and completed their worlds.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

It would sort of depend on where I was and my mood. If I were stuck at LaGuardia, I would be so royally pissed I’d read an SJD Peterson novel. She’s always so edgy and provides a good way to relieve frustration. If I were on a beautiful island or a planet, probably Maris Black. I especially loved “Owing Corey.”

How early in your life did you begin writing?

In my career I was the SVP of Marketing and Public Relations for a large publicly traded company based in Atlanta GA. In that job I wrote constantly. Marketing pieces, ads, commercials, annual reports, branding guidelines, etc. but I didn’t start writing fiction until about seven years ago. My husband Kell and own and Inn & Restaurant on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. We normally head south for the winters, but one particular winter we decided to stay. It was so boring and cold that I had to do something with a distraction. So I started writing a book. I always said everyone has on good book in them so why not write mine. It took the entire winter, but after I finished it I gave it to a couple friends to read and they both suggested I send it to a few publishers. I guess I was one of the lucky ones, because out of three publishers I chose, two wanted the book. I of course chose Dreamspinner Press, which is my only home and I’m thrilled to have them represent me.

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I was a very late bloomer when it came to reading. As a kid I read what was absolutely required for school, but I was way more into music. With that said, the first book I can remember reading that stayed with me and still does is “The Scarlet Ibis,” by James Hurst. It is the tale of two brothers and written in first person by one of the brothers whose name is never mentioned, but only referred to as “Brother.” He recounts the life of he and his little brother who was nicknamed Doodle. Doodle was born very sickly and was never expected to live past infancy, or sit up or crawl or even walk for fear of his weak heart stopping. But he does. After one horrible scene the brothers bond and “Brother” vows to help Doodle be a normal kid. One day, a big red bird appears in their garden, looking sick and tired. The boys’ father identifies it as a scarlet ibis, a tropical bird that was blown off-course by a recent storm. When the bird dies, Doodle, pitying the creature, buries it. The story has been described as “rich in symbolism.” The Scarlet Ibis is the main symbol in the story, as is the color red and the ibis in comparison to “Doodle” as fragile yet majestic. The storm is often compared to Doodle’s brother because the brother pushed him too hard, much as the storm did with the scarlet ibis. In the end Doodle does not survive and “Brother” finds his lifeless body lying on the ground with blood flowing out of his mouth, staining his throat and shirt a brilliant red. Doodle died like the scarlet ibis: bloody red and far away from home. Recalling this story still send chills up and down my spine. If you haven’t read this book, please do.

Okay so you’ve read what makes me tick, so now tell me what makes you tick. If you’ve had an experience connecting with someone like Heath and Theo, tell me about in the form of a comment. If you do, you will be entered into a drawing to win any book from my backlist.

Now here’s an excerpt. Enjoy!

Scotty

Excerpt:

Theo and Heath met the crew in the formal dining room, where the chef had set up an appetizing spread. Theo had told Heath he’d requested a buffet because he didn’t want anyone serving anyone else tonight. There would be plenty of time for that later. Tonight was all about coming together as a crew, and Heath was pleased that Theo wanted everyone to be equal and on the same playing field.

When dinner was over, Theo brought everyone out onto the bow. He retrieved the two bottles of Dom from a canvas bag and handed the bag to Heath. From it, Heath handed everyone a champagne flute while Theo popped the top on one of the bottles. When everyone had a full glass of champagne, Theo dug into the bag and retrieved the other bottle.

“To a great journey, a great ship, and a great crew.” Theo looked at Heath. “To borrow a line from our very capable first officer, I wish us all fair winds and following seas. I hereby bring this ship and this crew together as one.”

Theo slammed the bottle against the hull, and everyone cheered and sipped their champagne. When things had settled a little bit, Heath knocked his pocketknife against his glass. Everyone quieted, and he spoke. “The Captain and I asked that you be in full dress uniforms tonight for this very special occasion, but let me assure you that unless we have guests on board, we will be a lot less formal.”

“Thank goodness,” Craig interrupted, pulling at his collar.

Everyone laughed.

“Cliff?” Heath asked when all was quiet again. “Do you have that package I shipped?”

“Yes, sir. Right here.”

Heath looked at Theo, who seemed to be intrigued.

“I took the liberty of ordering some casual everyday attire for the crew.”

Heath ripped open the box and pulled out a pair of teal-green shorts and a white T-shirt that had Eternity running up and down the left front of the shirt.

Theo smiled and nodded. “Nice job.”

“There are various sizes for everyone,” Heath continued. “And Georgia, there are women’s sizes in there as well.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

“I want you all to look sharp every day, but more importantly, feel comfortable while doing it.”

The ship’s crew applauded, and Heath felt a blush coming on.

“I think it’s time for a few pictures.”

Theo positioned his iPhone on the bulwark, set the timer, and ran back and stood next to Heath, draping his arm over Heath’s shoulder. When the flash went off, Heath was smiling broadly, and he hoped the camera captured this very special moment.

Georgia stepped out of the group. “Okay, let me get a shot of our captain and first officer.”

The other crewmembers parted, and Theo and Heath were left standing side by side, Theo’s arm still hung loosely over Heath’s shoulder. Heath turned to Theo and their eyes met briefly. Both their smiles broadened. Theo held Heath’s gaze until Heath turned to the camera and Theo followed his lead.

It was very late. The ship was quiet, the celebration long over. But there was no sleep for Theo. Much to his chagrin, Heath was sleeping peacefully, his breaths steady and sure. The rhythmic sounds were familiar, soothing, and reassuring, but instead of luring him into slumber, they seemed to tease and taunt him.

He’d tossed and turned for the better part of two hours and had finally given up, resigned that it would indeed be a very long night. In the darkness of their cabin, Theo reached for his phone and brought up the camera roll of the evening’s pictures. He studied the pictures one by one, from the beginning of the evening to the end. His crew seemed genuinely happy and excited about their new adventure, and as he scrolled through them, he stopped and gasped. On his phone was a photo of him and Heath. They were standing very close to one another, and Theo’s arm was draped over Heath’s shoulder. They were gazing into each other’s eyes and smiling broadly.

Theo studied the picture for a long time. He remembered posing with Heath for a similar picture. The next shot was the one he remembered. He slid his finger back and stared at the other picture again. Georgia must have snapped this one before they were looking at the camera. And the look on Theo’s face as he gazed into Heath’s eyes was undeniable. He knew it, and anyone who looked at this photo would know it as well. The thing that caught his attention, even more than his expression, was the expression on Heath’s face. He was looking at Theo the same way. He could only describe it as adoringly, with an indisputable twinkle in his eye. Was it just first officer admiration of his captain, or was it more? It looked like more to Theo, but he might be wishing for something that just wasn’t there. Either way, he saved the photo to a private file and deleted it from his camera roll. This one he would keep.

Buy Links

About the Author

Scotty Cade left Corporate America and twenty-five years of Marketing and Public Relations behind to buy an Inn & Restaurant on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with his partner of over twenty years. He started writing stories as soon as he could read, but just five years ago for publication. When not at the Inn, you can find him on the bow of his boat writing gay romance novels with his Shetland sheepdog Mavis at his side. Being from the south and a lover of commitment and fidelity, all of his characters find their way to long healthy relationships, however long it takes them to get there. He believes that in the end, the boy should always get the boy.

Here’s where you can find me:

www.scottycade.com

www.facebook.com/scotty.cade

www.twitter.com/ScottyCade

scottycade@gmail.com

scotty@scottycade.com

In Our Spotlight with An Author Interview: Zane Riley and his release ‘With or Without You’ (Excerpt and Giveaway)

With or Without You by Zane Riley
Sequel to ‘Go Your Own Way’
Release Date: July 21, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Interlude Press
Cover Artist: Colleen M. Good

Today Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is very happy to be interviewing Zane Riley author of With or Without You. Hi Zane, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Hi! I’m Zane, and I’m a queer transgender writer from northern Virginia. Currently, I’m in the process of packing up to move to Washington state, so I’m pretty busy at the moment, but also very excited. I’ve been writing since I was a little kid, although I didn’t get truly serious about it until college when I switched my major to Creative Writing.

With or Without You is my second novel and a sequel to my first. It continues Will and Lennox’s story as they finish up their senior year of high school. As they begin to learn how to navigate their growing relationship, Will plans for his future in college while Lennox struggles to accept that his future is more than surviving until the next day. They each begin to forge their own paths only to realize that the futures they each want may lead them away from each other.

Do you have any strange writing habits?

I used to, but in recent years the strangeness has melted away a little bit. When I first started writing daily I would change my location often to keep myself inspired. I once wrote from my bathtub, fully clothed with a bunch of blankets and my cat. Besides that, I can pretty much write anywhere at any time, although I prefer to be alone or at least to not have a bunch of people sitting next to me or looking over my shoulder.

Just as your books will inspire others, what books have inspired you?

A few recent ones were Tales of the Madmen Underground and The Book Thief. It’s sort of a constant revolving door for me. I read a book and it inspires me with its world and characters, it has an impact on how I look at different ways I write or words I use. Then I read another book, and it shifts again. I really like the books that I read and alter how I’m looking at my own work.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment (writing or life)?

It’s a toss up between graduating from college and moving out of Virginia. I’m the first in my family to make it to college and to graduate, so it’s a big deal to them and to me. My mom’s one of six and only one of them graduated high school, two went back for their GEDs, and the other three dropped out. I’m pretty proud of getting my degree, even though it took a few extra years because I was working and trying to pay for as much of it as I could while in school.

Moving out of Virginia is my other big one since that’s happening right now. I’ve been saying I want to move away from the congestion of northern Virginia and D.C. since I was twelve, so I’m hyped to finally make it a reality.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Traveling the world would be amazing, but I’ll settle for student loan free and with a steady income to afford to live. That’s the dream, ha ha. I’d like to have a cat or dog, probably a cat, once I’m settled and out on my own.

If you had a super power, what would it be?

I always think super speed would be nice, but then I stop and consider how slow the rest of the world would seem in comparison. It’d be cool to be able to run across water or to just pop over to Europe whenever, but I don’t think I could handle the fallback of that power. I’d finish things so much faster, the world would literally be inching along compared to the speed I was running at, because I can’t see how super speed wouldn’t also affect your mental speeds and the way you experience the world. Everything would be so slow, and I would get bored very fast.

Thank you, Zane, for that wonderful interview. Now more about With or Without You.

Blurb

In the much-anticipated sequel to Go Your Own Way, high school seniors Lennox McAvoy and Will Osborne pick up right where they left off—navigating the tumultuous waters of a new relationship and dealing with Will’s disapproving father.

When a violent incident forces Lennox to give up his independent ways, he must come to terms with his past just as Will is grappling with his future. As Will’s college plans become reality, will Lennox have the courage to go after the opportunities he doesn’t think he deserves?

Pages or Words: 348 pages
Should be read in order to appreciate the books

Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, New Adult

Excerpt

The band room was empty when he pushed the door open, but the piano was set up like it was almost every afternoon these days. Only Mr. Robinette and a music stand littered with sheet music was absent.

“Hello?”

The silence struck Lennox as odd, but as he sat down he also realized how strange it was to announce himself. So much had changed since the first time he’d snuck in here to play on his own. Now he was auditioning for some college he still couldn’t fathom.

To make Will happy. And maybe a little bit for himself.

“Ah, I wondered if you were going to show up.”

Mr. Robinette was behind him, the door to his office now wide open. He’d taken off his tie and undone a few buttons on his shirt like he did most afternoons when they practiced.

“You just want to play it through a few times or mess around with something else?”

Lennox took a seat at the piano, but didn’t both opening his bag. He’d memorized the piece he was playing by Valentine’s Day and now, almost two weeks later, he could write it out measure for measure on blank sheet music. But playing it was becoming repetitive. For two hours, three times a week, almost nonstop with the same four pages and nothing else.

“I’d rather try something new. That piece is getting a little old.”

Mr. Robinette smiled and pulled a chair up beside him. “I had a nightmare the other night and it was the theme song while I ran around a haunted house Scooby Doo style.”

“You didn’t catch a ride in the Mystery Machine, did you? I’ve always wanted that van.”

“I’ve got a lunch box version of it. It doesn’t fit much though because it’s too narrow. Anyway, play what you want. I’ll be here until about four-thirty, so it’s all yours.”

As Mr. Robinette returned to his office, Lennox pulled what had become his music notebook out of his bag and opened it to the latest page. He’d taken to composing during class when he should have been taking notes, especially calculus where he had no reason to pay attention anyway.

The latest page was a tune he’d come up with while the other kids had been tapping their pencils and erasing answers. Every moment of his life carried a rhythm, a melody, and an emotion he could create with, and his notebook was becoming a testament to that. He played through everything he’d jotted down over the past few days, but after several rounds he kept coming back to one. It was a piano version he’d tried—and mostly failed—to create of one of the songs Will had played on a loop a few weeks ago.

“I’m getting ready to lock up!”

Mr. Robinette’s voice carried out of the office and into the band room. A few minutes and several jingles of Mr. Robinette’s keys later, the office door was shut and Lennox was closing the cover on the keys.

“That last piece you were playing, was it a cover?”

Lennox shrugged as they headed for the door.

“It was supposed to be. Didn’t sound much like the song.”

“Well, the others did. They were all really good, even the ones that weren’t covers.”

“Uh, thanks.”

Lennox watched him at the door to the parking lot for a moment. He’d been a great help over the last month—all year if Lennox was honest. Mr. Robinette had believed in him in his own way since school had begun, and thanks to him he had a decent shot at this audition.

“Thanks for… all of this. I actually feel like—just thanks.”

Mr. Robinette gave him a genuine smile and patted him on the shoulder.

“You’re very welcome. Let me know how it goes when you get back, okay? I’m rooting for you. Got all of my fingers and limbs crossed. You deserve the chance. Don’t doubt that or yourself.”

“I-I won’t.”

It was funny to have so many people believing in him after so long. Happiness was a strange feeling as well. Until he’d let Will into his life he couldn’t remember how to capture such a feeling in his chest and keep it there.

Buy the book

Interlude Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBookstore | Smashwords

All Romance eBooks: | Indiebound

Meet the author

Zane Riley is a transgender writer who wrote his first work of fan fiction in the fourth grade. He is a recent transplant to Vancouver, Washington where he spends his time watching long distance baseball games, hiking, and exploring the musical depths of the internet. His first novel, Go Your Own Way, was published by Interlude Press in 2015.

Where to find the author:

Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/ZaneNebula
Twitter: @ZaneNebula
Other: https://www.goodreads.com/Zane-Riley

Tour Dates & Stops:

21-Jul: Parker Williams, Unquietly Me, Louise Lyons, Joyfully Jay, Velvet Panic

22-Jul: Bayou Book Junkie, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Outrageous Heroes

25-Jul: Havan Fellows, Gay Media Reviews, Nephy Hart, Happily Ever Chapter

26-Jul: Oh My Shelves, Kirsty Loves Books, Dawn’s Reading Nook

27-Jul: MM Book Escape, My Fiction Nook, Prism Book Alliance

28-Jul: MM Good Book Reviews, Book Lovers 4Ever, Open Skye Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog

29-Jul: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Inked Rainbow Reads, Boys on the Brink Reviews

1-Aug: Alpha Book Club, Love Bytes

2-Aug: Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Butterfly-O-Meter

3-Aug: V’s Reads, Molly Lolly

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Love Finds a Way in ‘Come What May (All Saints #1)’ by A.M. Arthur (author interview,excerpt and giveaway)

Come What May (All Saints #1) by A.M. Arthur
Release Date: May 23, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Carina Press
Cover Artist: Carina Press

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is lucky to be interviewing A.M. Arthur, author of Come What May. Hi A.M., thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Hello! I’m an m/m romance author, who mostly writes contemporary but occasionally delves into paranormal. I live in Hicksville, USA with two rambunctious cats and a large collection of horror film DVDs.

My newest release, Come What May, is the first in a new NA romance series with Carina Press. Jonas Ashcroft is suspended from college after a fraternity prank goes wrong, and he’s stuck working in his aunt’s thrift store—his very first job ever. Tate Dawson runs an LGBT homeless shelter nearby, and when their paths cross, sparks fly. So do insults, misunderstandings, and smexy times.

• What’s the easiest thing about writing?

For me, one of the easiest things about writing is developing my characters and creating their biographies. Since plot is informed by character, I always get to know my heroes ahead of time. I write out their personal histories, their family members (if they have any), and any major events that have affected their lives. Knowing these things helps me know where these characters are personally and emotionally when the story starts.

• Name one author (living or dead) you’d like to write with?

Oh gosh, there are so many fellow m/m romance authors I adore and respect so much. But the first person who comes to mind is K.A. Mitchell. She was the first m/m romance author I read many years before I attempted to write in the genre, and she remains one of my favorite authors. Her Florida books are top favorites.

• Tell us about your cover and how it came about.

I have to give kudos the amazing art folks at Carina for my cover. During development, they mentioned that they wanted to get away from the split-screen style used in my previous series’ and I was cool with that. I have to admit, I was flabbergasted by how perfect the cover is. The embracing couple is Jonas and Tate. Even the tiny detail like the glasses Tate is holding! They really nailed this cover.

• Is this book part of a series? Do you have ideas that could make it into a series? If it is a series, tell us a little about it.

Yes, Come What May is the first in a new series called All Saints. The name comes from both the thrift store where Jonas works, and the homeless shelter that Tate helps run. It’s a New Adult series, featuring characters in their early to mid-twenties, who are at emotional crossroads in their lives. The second book in the series, Say It Right, features Tate’s best friend Marc.

• Word association. Tell us the first thing that comes to mind when you read these words.

Ketchup – Mustard
Flakes – Frosted
Elastic – Band
Timer – Cooking
Google – Something

Blurb

Jonas needs Tate. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Or at least, he doesn’t want to admit it. Because there is no way Jonas Ashcroft is gay. He’s a straight, carefree frat boy player, just like any good son of a conservative state senator. If only his struggle to convince everyone—especially himself—didn’t leave him so miserable. No matter how many girls or bottles he drowns himself in, Jonas can neither escape nor accept who he is.

Enter Tate. He’s smart, confident, and instantly sees right through Jonas’s surly exterior. Sure, he’s done things in life he’s not proud of, but he knows who he is and what he wants. And what he wants is Jonas. As their easy friendship intensifies into something more, Tate introduces Jonas to a life he’s never known. One filled with acceptance and sex and a love that terrifies and excites them both.

But some inner demons refuse to be shaken off so easily. When Jonas’s old life barges in, he faces a shattering choice, one that could destroy everything he and Tate have fought so hard for. Sometimes love just isn’t enough—and sometimes it’s exactly what you need.

Pages or Words: 70,000 words, 320 pages (print edition)
Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, M/M Romance, New Adult, Romance

Excerpt

“It’s small,” Jonas said.

“Better than a cardboard box or foster care.” The sharpness in Tate’s voice echoed in his frown.

Jonas had never known anyone before who’d been in foster care, and saying so would probably make him the biggest douche on the planet. It also took the edge off some of his irritation over the total mindfuck that was Tate Dawson. “It’s way better than both of those things. You worked hard for this place, Tate. I haven’t worked hard for anything in my life.”

“I disagree.”

He blinked. “You do?”

“Yes, I do. I think you work very, very hard to convince yourself and the world that you’re something you’re not. I think you work very, very hard to be perfect when no one is, and the only thing anyone should ever do is just be her or himself. Be true to you, not to what others want from you.”

Jonas’s throat squeezed tight. “I can’t.”

Tate took a step closer, bringing a gentle waft of sweat and something sweet. “Why not?”

He saw the barest reflection of himself in Tate’s glasses and he didn’t like it. He stepped back. Tate snagged his wrist and held him there. The touch sent awareness buzzing across his skin, down his spine and straight to his balls. H needed to pull away before this got out of control.

And then his rebel brain decided it was a good idea to glance at Tate’s pink lips. Lips that Tate, the asshole, licked with slow swipes of his tongue.

Jonas yanked away his hand away so hard Tate stumbled. “I’m not gay, so you can get that ‘fuck the frat boy’ fantasy out of your head right now.”

Instead of being cowed, Tate planted both hands on his hips and said, “Who are you trying to convince? Because it’s just you and me in this room, and I’m not the one who brought up your sexuality. You did.”

Damn him. “Why won’t you leave me alone?”

Tate’s gaze drifted over his face as he sought for words. “Because every time we’re together I can tell you’re struggling with something. You put up this lone wolf front to keep people at arm’s length so you don’t have to work so hard to pretend, but it’s exhausting you. Jonas, you can be yourself with me. Whoever that is.”

“I can’t.” Talking was getting harder around the lump in his throat. His heart was kicking too fast and his chest ached.

“Look me in the eye.” Tate closed the three strides between them, then curled a warm hand around the back of Jonas’s neck. “Look me in the eye and say you don’t want to kiss me right now.”

Buy the book: Amazon | Nook

Meet the Author

A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories. A.M. Arthur’s work is available from Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, Dreamspinner Press, and SMP Swerve.

When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.

Where to find the author:

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/A.M.Arthur.M.A
Twitter: http://twitter.com/am_arthur
Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/am-arthur
Website: http://amarthur.blogspot.com/

Tour Dates & Stops:

23-May: The Novel Approach, Gay Media Reviews, Gay Book Reviews, Man2ManTastic, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Mikky’s World of Books, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

24-May: Oh My Shelves, MM Good Book Reviews, Attention Is Arbitrary, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

25-May: Unquietly Me, Havan Fellows, Prism Book Alliance

26-May: Love Bytes, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Sassygirl Books

27-May: Hearts on Fire, 3 Chicks After Dark, Multitasking Mommas

30-May: Happily Ever Chapter, Books A to Z, Joyfully Jay

31-May: Dawn’s Reading Nook, Jessie G. Books, Book Lovers 4Ever

1-Jun: My Fiction Nook, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Making It Happen

2-Jun: Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Full Moon Dreaming

3-Jun: V’s Reads, As The Pages Turn

6-Jun: Outrageous Heroes, BFD Book Blog

7-Jun: Cathy Brockman Romances, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy

8-Jun: Three Books Over The Rainbow, Bayou Book Junkie

9-Jun: Kirsty Loves Books, Divine Magazine

10-Jun: Alpha Book Club, Molly Lolly

Giveaway

Enter to win a $25 e-gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice). Must be 18 years of age or older.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

In the Fantasy Spotlight: Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor #4) by Tali Spencer (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor #4) by Tali Spencer
Release Date: April 6, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Cover Artist: Melody Pond

Today Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is very lucky to be interviewing Tali Spencer, author of Victory Portrait. Hi Tali, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Tell us something no one else knows about your characters.

Darius Arrento has been intimate with his emperor, and friend, Gaspar Leonnte. It happened when Darius was 25 and Gaspar was 19 or 20. Darius was a young officer given his first command and Gaspar was assigned to his unit. The legion’s general knew Gaspar was the Uttoran emperor’s son, except he didn’t pass along that information.

Gaspar was a terrible soldier, horrible. He couldn’t obey orders to save his life. Worse, if he started talking, he didn’t know when to shut up. Darius was ready to strangle him the first night. After a battle in which both men barely escaped with their skins, Darius and Gaspar gave in to a kiss and a night of oral sex. They connected more than once, in no small part due to being young, horny, and having no other outlets.

You heard it here first.

Have you ever written something that made you cry?

I cried when I wrote a hurt-comfort scene in one of my epic high fantasy novels. A king had just lost his adult son. The young man who seeks to comfort the king has considered him an enemy throughout the entire book to that point, but he can no longer do so, and the scene is very tender.

I was writing that scene on a terrible day when I thought maybe my oldest son had died. (He hadn’t…and called me after several hours. It was 9/11.) That scene still makes me cry when I read it.

Have you ever co-written with someone before?

Non-fiction, yes. Fiction, no. Some authors are very social and thrive on the energy of writing with other authors. I have the habits of a recluse: silent, secretive, and annoying. It’s a miracle I have a happy marriage. I’d be surprised if another author could put up with me.

What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Promotion. But that’s more about being an author than the writing, so…I would say I find it most difficult to end a story on a strong note. Even if I know where a story has to end, I’m never quite satisfied with my closing line. I want something memorable, definite, and profound. Haven’t managed to write one of those yet.

Name your four most important food groups.

Coffee, coffee, chocolate, coffee, and dairy. Kahlua counts as coffee. Dairy means creamer. I’m pretty sure I don’t like coffee at all. It’s all about the creamer.

Thank you, Tali. Now more about

Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor #4) by Tali Spencer

Blurb

Imperial captive and former Sebboyan prince Peta Kordeun has one great wish: to meet Darius Arrento, conqueror of his country and a man he has idolized since childhood. That wish comes true the day the Uttoran emperor assigns Peta to assist the artist who will be painting the great general’s official portrait.

General Darius Arrento would rather take a crossbow bolt through his flesh than sit for a portrait, until his friend the emperor forces his hand. The notorious artist, Brazzi, uses semen and other sexual fluids to bind his colors—and Arrento is captivated by the artist’s pretty helper. Before long he is driven to possess the gorgeous young man who draws battle maps and whose naïve charm has won more hearts in Uttor than Arrento has won battles.

When Arrento learns that Peta, the slave he covets and wants for his own, is one of the despised Kordeun princes, he storms from Uttor toward a far corner of the empire—where he quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot to tear Uttor’s empire apart. His emotions and loyalties frayed, the great Arrento is in the battle of his life…and Peta may hold the key to his survival.

Pages or Words: 78,600 words
Categories: Alternate Universe, Fantasy, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt

“You want me to assist the painter. Only that?” Peta asked.

“Yes. I just want you to understand you will be naked and…Brazzi will want you to be sexually aroused.”

“What?”

“It’s what Brazzi does. Not for himself—not unless you’re a woman—but for his method. He was tried three years ago on charges of obscenity because he uses…sexual fluids for mixing his paint. He truly is a genius. His colors are astonishing.”

“And you want Arrento to see me like that? Naked and…being used?”

“No.” Gaspar was being firm. “I want a portrait of my general. And I happen to think that the sight of you will keep his ass firmly planted for whatever sittings the painter requires. You see, Darius has one weakness—only one. He cannot resist a thing of beauty—and you, my pretty slave, are the most breathtaking young man I have ever had the privilege to look upon.”

Peta flushed. Gaspar wasn’t smiling. The man was serious.

Could he do it? Did he want to do it? Peta knew he was pretty. His looks had blessed and cursed him all his life. His beauty had attracted Kesme as a fellow cadet and was what Kesme had praised that last night when they’d made love…and Peta’s face was what Lukacz, his own father, had sought to destroy, thinking that doing so would release him from predation and unnatural desires. And now Gaspar, too, wanted only one thing…

“Just sit there and look pretty,” he said, heart sinking as he grasped what Gaspar was asking him to do.

“Only if you’re willing. I’m not completely oblivious to what this sort of service might entail. It could be rather…awkward. On the other hand, it might not be for long. Darius can be stubborn. It’s possible he won’t show up.”

And just as possible that he would.

Peta wanted to say no but he could not get his mouth to form the word. He might never get another chance to see Arrento, perhaps hear his voice. Be in the same room with him.

He’d be silent…naked…terribly exposed even in his utter worship.

But he would at least be able to say he had seen the great man.

“I’ll do it,” he said.

Buy the book

Resplendence Publishing | Amazon | ARe

Meet the author:

Tali Spencer delights in erotic fantasy and adventure, creating worlds where she can explore the heights and shadows of sexual passion. A hopeful romantic and lover of all things exotic, she also writes high fantasy and science fiction. If you would like to see inspiration pictures for her characters, or glimpse how she envisions her worlds, check out her Pinterest boards.

Thanks to a restless father, she grew up as a bit of a nomad and still loves to travel whenever she can. Her longest stint in one place was Milwaukee where she went to college, enjoyed a series of interesting careers, and raised three surprisingly well-adjusted sons. She later married her true love and put down new roots in Philadelphia, where she lives in an ongoing Italian American family sitcom. At least she’s learned how make good pasta. When not writing, Tali reads everything from sweet goofy romances to medical research, manages her fantasy football team—go Gekkos!—and takes long walks with her loving, if slightly neurotic, poodle.

Tali’s other books include the three preceding Uttor books: Captive Heart, Dangerous Beauty, and Adored, all with Resplendence. Her gay male high fantasy stories, Thick as Thieves, Sorcerer’s Knot, and The Prince of Winds, are published by Dreamspinner Press. She often posts free stories and excerpts on her blog.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: : http://www.facebook.com/tali.spencer
Twitter: @tali_spencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/talispencer/
Blog: http://talismania-brilliantdisguise.blogspot.com

Tour Dates & Stops:

18-Apr: Prism Book Alliance

19-Apr: Decadent Delights

20-Apr: Bonkers About Books, Full Moon Dreaming

21-Apr: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

22-Apr: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

25-Apr: The Novel Approach, Happily Ever Chapter

26-Apr: BFD Book Blog

27-Apr: My Fiction Nook

28-Apr: Bayou Book Junkie, V’s Reads

29-Apr: Oh My Shelves

2-May: Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Book Lovers 4Ever

3-May: Kirsty Loves Books, Open Skye Book Reviews

4-May: Alpha Book Club

5-May: Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

6-May: Molly Lolly

9-May: A.M. Leibowitz

10-May: Divine Magazine

11-May: Love Bytes, Man2ManTastic, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat

12-May: Andrew Q. Gordon, Nephy Hart, Rebecca Cohen Writes

13-May: Louise Lyons, MM Good Book Reviews

Giveaway

Enter to win Rafflecopter Prize: $10 gift card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

B.A. Tortuga’s Here For A Old Town New Interview and Release Day Guest Blog!

Old Town New by B.A. Tortuga
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art by Anna Sikorska

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is so happy to have one of its favorite authors here to share her thoughts about writing and her latest release, Old Town New. Welcome, B.A. Tortuga!

✍✍✍✍✍✍

Hey, y’all! I’m BA Tortuga, resident redneck and lover of all things cowboy :D.

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

Oh, y’all. I eavesdrop, I talk, I visit. Most importantly? I listen. I listen to folks’ stories and wallow in them. I pride myself in telling the stories of people I know, of folks I love.

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?

I used to be a pantser, but these days I’ve found if I focus on the outline, I do a better job, tell a better story, and don’t cry as much during edits.

If you had a character you’ve written you would write differently now at this time in your writing career, who would it be and why?

Oh, man… Will and Dean from Latigo. I wrote them in vignettes and then put them in order and if I wrote them again I’d start at the beginning and write straight through.

Can a author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

Sure. It’s who you’re in love with RIGHT NOW. In other words, who you’re writing. Right now I’m in love with Jayden and Dakota. Totally. Madly. Passionately. Next week, I’ll tell you that I’m in love with Hoss and Bradley, I bet…

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

Oh, man. Bent by Sean Michael, Promises 2 by AE Via, The Stand by Stephen King, Dark Fall by Dean Koontz, anything by my wife, Julia Talbot.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

I wrote my first story at 2 ½ years old and I published my first story at 5 years old. A long time. 😉

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I was reading by 18 months. I am a voracious reader and I read every day. Grins My favorite books as a little one were Little Women by Alcott and What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge. I wanted to be Jo March when I grew up (and weirdly, my wife would tell you it happened).

What question would you ask yourself here?

Are you the happiest girl alive? Answer: Hell, yeah.

If you were writing your life as a romance novel, what would the title be?

Patience and Tequila. 😀

Much love, y’all,

Old Town New Blurb

Danny Avers is a teacher in small town Colorado. Back in the day, before high-speed Internet, social media, smartphones, or streaming anything, Danny’s just trying to live down his wild teenage years and carry on the only way he knows how: one day at a time. The last person he expects to see back in town is Harlan Quinn, his old best friend and former consummate bad boy. And when he finds out Quinn is the new sheriff and his new neighbor, it’s even more of a shock.

Quinn knows there’s more to his old hometown than meets the eye. There’s more to Danny than old memories and quiet living too. But as in the past, stirring things up is Quinn’s specialty, and he sets out to do that, in more ways than one, pushing Danny to admit there’s more to life and that their old town just might manage to be new again. That’s if old town thinking doesn’t get them both killed.

Sales Links

Available April 20 from:

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | All Romance Ebooks | Barnes and Noble

✍✍✍✍✍✍

About the Author

About BA Tortuga

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head. Find her on the web at http://www.batortuga.com

Dance, Love, Live is Back with ‘Like You’ve Never Been Hurt’ by Jaime Samms (author interview and excerpt)

Like You’ve Never Been Hurt (Dance, Love, Live #2) by Jaime Samms
Dreamspinner Press

✍✍✍✍

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Jaime Samms here today to talk about inspiration, writing and the release, Like You’ve Never Been Hurt. Welcome, Jaime.

✍✍✍✍

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

A lot of the time, an inspiration for a book can be something as simple as a scene I see during a drive, or something I overhear at the mall or a picture I see somewhere. Since I’m very much a pantzer, all it takes is a visual cue or a line of dialogue to spark that thing in me that makes me decide I have to write about it. The story grows organically out of that. These latest dance books are a little more personal, since my daughter is, and always has been, a dancer. Now that she is rapidly nearing the age when she will have to be moving to a bigger city to pursue her dream, I guess I needed to explore that dream in my own way. It got me thinking about a life in dance, and then the stories began to take shape, and here we are now!

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?

Definitely a pantzer all the way. The why is probably because for me, writing a story is much like reading one in some ways. I enjoy the journey. I want to find out what’s going to happen as much as the next guy. So unveiling the characters and story as I go is fun. Sometimes, even after so many stories, I still have to push myself past the point where I know how it ends, just to get the writing part done. It can be a struggle not to heed the siren call of a new story at that point!

Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else? Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?

I grew up on fantasy sprinkled with science fiction here and there. I like paranormal now, and confess to being a bit more drawn to anything that has a heaping side helping of plot alongside the romance when I read. I shy away from writing stuff like that just because I’m not convinced I have the chops to hold up to some of my very favorite authors of the non-romance genres.

If you had a character you’ve written you would write differently now at this time in your writing career, who would it be and why?

Since the vast bulk of my story writing is character driven, I really don’t think there is a way to write any of my characters differently and still be writing the same story about the same guy, if that makes sense. The story is their journey to being the different person. If I could change some aspects of a story? I might do some beefing up of the peripheral story in Patchwork Heaven. Gregor was a challenge to write and I question if his story was told to best effect. I wouldn’t change Gregor. I would change how I related his story.

Can an author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

I’m sure it happens. Honestly, if anyone is my favourite, it is probable whatever character I happen to be writing at the time. They are all different, and like kids or pets, you love them all for themselves. When your focus is on them, in that moment, they are the world. But they are not the universe.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

I have such a long list of to-be-reads that as long as I have access to electricity, and my phone, I can read just about anything I’m in the mood for. I just have a ton of unread e-books.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

I don’t remember ever not having stories happening in my head. Writing them down came in about elementary school, probably. Letting other people read them was a slower, more selective process. In fact, I know exactly where all that early writing is, still in my parents’ house and have been waiting for the time when I can sneak it all out without anyone noticing so they don’t ask what it is. It really isn’t fit to be read. By anyone.

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I read early on. I don’t remember anyone reading to me, though I do remember reading to my little brother. Some of my very favorite kids books:

https://www.amazon.ca/Tigers-cellar-Carol-Fenner/dp/B0006AYF5K

http://www.amazon.com/Danny-Dinosaur-Syd-Hoff/dp/0064440028

https://www.amazon.ca/Big-Max-Kin-Platt/dp/0064440060

https://www.amazon.ca/Alligator-Pie-Classic-Edition-Dennis/dp/1443411515

So yeah. Fantastical imagination has always been the way it was going for me, so no wonder as I got older, I moved on to Tolkien and Tad Williams and Terry Brooks. It was inevitable.

If you were writing your life as a romance novel, what would the title be?

I have never been good at titles, but…something along the lines of Never Settle. I made good decision in the end, and have a great family. But it was touch and go there for a little while!

SERIES BLURB

To dance is to put one’s heart and soul on display for the world to see and judge. Conrad, Peridot, and Cobalt always knew this. For years, this small group of men has danced in and out of the spotlight and one another’s lives. Now, settling in one place, one studio, they all have to find a place on the stage—or behind the scenes—and find the even greater strength to once more dance like no one is watching. To love like they’ve never been hurt before. But most of all, to live their lives like they have found their heaven, both in the music and in the eyes of those who love them.

Blurb: About to lose the only thing he ever loved, Adam Pittaluga is at a crossroads in a dancing career that has hardly begun. He has always wanted to be a ballet dancer, but now that it’s impossible, he turns to Peridot for comfort. Peridot has been rebuilding his life after losing his ability to dance professionally, his marriage, and very nearly his daughter. He has a lot of reasons to be leery of starting something new, especially with a man as young as Adam.

Adam and Peridot have to believe that starting again can lead to love and success and that sometimes, the strength needed to love like you’ve never been hurt can be borrowed from unexpected places for a while. But ultimately, they must find it inside themselves to be each other’s happy ending.

About Jaime

Jaime has been writing for various publishers since the fall of 2008, although she’s been writing for herself far longer. Often asked why men—what’s so fascinating about writing stories about men falling in love—she’s never come up with a clear answer. Just that these are the stories that she loves to read, so it seemed to make sense if she was going to write, they would also be the stories she wrote.

These days, you can find plenty of free reading on her website. She also writes for Freya’s Bower, Dreamspinner Press, Totally Bound, and now, Riptide Publishing.

Spare time, when it can be found rolled into a ball at the back of the dryer or cavorting with the dust bunnies in the corners, is spent crocheting, drawing, gardening (weather permitting, of course, since she is Canadian!), or watching movies. She has a day job, as well, which she loves, and two kids, but thankfully, also a wonderful husband who shoulders more than his fair share of household and child-care responsibilities.

She graduated some time ago from college with a fine arts diploma, and a major in textile arts, which basically qualifies her to draw pictures and create things with string and fabric. One always needs an official slip of paper to fall back on after all . . .

Find Jaime

Website: http://jaime-samms.net/

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000982219151&ref=tn_tnmn

Livejournal:http://dontkickmycane.livejournal.com/

Deviantart: http://dontkickmycane.deviantart.com/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/JaimeSamms

Amazon Author page: amazon.com/author/jaimesamms

Striking Sparks by Ari McKay Dreamspinner Press

Cover by Paul Richmond Purchase it Here

About Striking Sparks

About the Authors

Share this:

Seven Minutes by Grace Kilian Delaney Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: December 7, 2016 Cover art by Reese Dante

Available for purchase at

~Our Grace Kilian Delaney Interview~

About Seven Minutes

Excerpt

About the Author

Share this:

Catching Heir by Julia Talbot Dreamspinner Press Cover Art by Bree Archer

Buy Links

About Catching Heir

About the Author

Share this:

The Rodeo Knight (Sam’s Cafe Romances #3) by Ashavan Doyon Dreamspinner Press Cover art by Bree Archer

Share this:

Only Forever by Scotty Cade Dreamspinner Press

**

~

Buy Links

About the Author

Share this:

With or Without You by Zane Riley Sequel to ‘Go Your Own Way’ Release Date: July 21, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Interlude Press Cover Artist: Colleen M. Good

Giveaway

Share this:

Come What May (All Saints #1) by A.M. Arthur Release Date: May 23, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Carina Press Cover Artist: Carina Press

Giveaway

Share this:

Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor #4) by Tali Spencer Release Date: April 6, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Resplendence Publishing Cover Artist: Melody Pond

Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor #4) by Tali Spencer

Giveaway

Share this:

Old Town New by B.A. Tortuga Dreamspinner Press Cover Art by Anna Sikorska

✍✍✍✍✍✍

Old Town New Blurb

Sales Links

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | All Romance Ebooks | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Share this:

Like You’ve Never Been Hurt (Dance, Love, Live #2) by Jaime Samms Dreamspinner Press

✍✍✍✍

Share this:

Striking Sparks by Ari McKay
Dreamspinner Press

Cover by Paul Richmond
Purchase it Here

Seven Minutes by Grace Kilian Delaney
Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: December 7, 2016
Cover art by Reese Dante

Catching Heir by Julia Talbot
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art by Bree Archer

The Rodeo Knight (Sam’s Cafe Romances #3) by Ashavan Doyon
Dreamspinner Press
Cover art by Bree Archer

Only Forever by Scotty Cade
Dreamspinner Press

With or Without You by Zane Riley
Sequel to ‘Go Your Own Way’
Release Date: July 21, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Interlude Press
Cover Artist: Colleen M. Good

Come What May (All Saints #1) by A.M. Arthur
Release Date: May 23, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Carina Press
Cover Artist: Carina Press

Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor #4) by Tali Spencer
Release Date: April 6, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Cover Artist: Melody Pond

Old Town New by B.A. Tortuga
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art by Anna Sikorska

Like You’ve Never Been Hurt (Dance, Love, Live #2) by Jaime Samms
Dreamspinner Press