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Wow and awesome! I'm delighted to have Thianna Durston (and Logan--he's a hoot) on my blog today. Let's just get right to what she has brought us and of course what they have to say!  The series is available as separate novels and as a boxed set. They are meant to be read in order. Heat Rating: High Age range: 18+ only Hello! And welcome to the Release Tour for the rewritten and rereleased All They Ever Needed trilogy. If you haven’t read Logan & Christian’s tale, this is a perfect opportunity to do so. I meant to write a post, but Logan thought he should have a word and asked me to pull out an interview I did with him right after the first book was published. He also updated a couple questions so here he is… Meet Logan Mannette.   What is your author like? *chuckles* I’m so not answering that. *winks* Nah. She’s always willing to listen to either one of us, to stay up late typing into the night and she’s about as non-judgmental as it is possible to get. Seriously, I have tried to shock her and so far? Hasn’t happened. Where do you live? I live in a small city in Washington State. Well, for part of the year anyway. I’m actually a drama student at the University of Washington in Seattle, but I was born and raised in Yakima. It’s a great place to live. Four seasons, lots of stuff to do, plus everyone I love is there. *offers a shy grin* Absolutely everyone. What do you want the readers to know about you? Oh, good question. Well, like I said, I’m studying drama, but I’m also getting a degree in education because I love to work with kids. *laughs* Every year, I play Santa at my parents’ holiday party. It’s great to sit there and hear all the little munchkins wishes and their faces light up when I give them a toy. Best job in the world. What one thing you’re proud of? I’m assuming you’re asking what thing I have done that I’m proud of? *shakes head* I’m just me. But I am extremely proud of my boyfriend Christian. He’s just… *pauses* Amazing. He went through such hell and has managed to fight his way through it. Plus being willing to date a man when he was not sure of his own sexuality? He amazes me every single day. Everyone should be lucky enough to have a man like him in their life. What would you never share? *snickers* I did a lot of stupid stuff as a kid. I really did. My poor mother, it’s amazing she didn’t have to start taking something for stress. *His expression turns serious* But probably the one thing I don’t like to talk about was when I was younger, before I came out, pretending to like girls? That was rough. Having to smile and laugh with the guys about things I could care less about. And trying to hide the guy I am. That hurt. A lot. *His shy smile comes back* But my parents always stood by me. When I came out, they were happy for me. In fact, there has never been a time in my life where they haven’t been behind me one hundred percent. I think that’s why I feel comfortable to go and do whatever I need to. No matter what, I know they are there for me. If asked about an important memory, which one comes up first? Oh, wow. Well, I would have to say, my most intense memory has to be the night Christian came out to his parents. He was fully in the closet at that point and hell, we had just been going out for a week. But suddenly this wonderful, amazing man, who has more guts than anyone else I know, just came out in front of a whole room of people. It was… * He pauses and his eyes glisten with unshed tears* the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.  What would you rather forget? *thinks hard about it* Nothing that I can think of, to be honest. I’ve had a great life so far and while I have done stupid things, there’s nothing there that I would like to forget. *Addendum* Now that all three parts of our story are out, I’m torn. Parts of me would like to forget about what happened in New York, but I think I had to go through that. It changed me, but it also made me stronger. All of my life, I’ve been accepted for who I am. Facing two people who refused to was harsh and hurt. But it helped me to see that they don’t matter in the long run. Because the people that do matter? They love me just as I am. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? That’s easy! *his face lights up* Christian Darringer is the most amazing man I have ever met. He went through hell, hell nobody should ever have to face, first for protecting someone and second for…*his throat closes up and he takes a couple huge breaths* The men he served with in the Middle East tried to kill him because he was labeled as gay. If they had succeeded, I never would have met him and he’s so wonderful. He’s fighting so hard to overcome that shit. *he takes another couple of breaths* Sorry, I just get very emotional about him because he’s everything to me, he truly is. I mean, I always wanted to find a man I clicked with and who got me, but I never expected to find someone I was so in sync with. I will admit… *he flashes a flirtatious smile* …I love to spank. It’s a huge fetish of mine. Grew, I suppose, out of the fact I grew up in a home where domestic discipline is the way of life. Christian loves to be spanked. So on top of all the other wonderful things about him? We share the same fetish. We’ve only been together a short while and are still learning about one another; he still doesn’t know a lot about domestic discipline. But we have plenty of time. *he smiles again, a warm one that looks as though it is meant for one very special man* Hopefully, a very long time. Tell me about your best ever kiss. *Logan takes a drink of coffee, his grin practically lighting up the room* Christian again. Have you ever been with someone who just clicks? And the more you get to know them, it’s like finding a piece of a puzzle you never even realized you were looking for? Christian is that for me. And when we kiss? *he groans and his head lolls back* From the first time our lips touched, I felt something I have never felt with anyone else. There is a connection between us that is, well, quite fucking fabulous actually.  Where can I meet you again? Besides our story As Natural As Breathing, Thianna has continued our story in Took My Breath Away, and Breathe Each Other In. Like I said, she’s a good egg. Christian and I talk to her all day long, sometimes waking her up at three a.m. She doesn’t mind- well, she grouses about it at first, but once we get talking, she quickly turns on her computer and gets writing. Christian and I would love it if you would check out our story. He has come so far and he just amazes me every day. Though in the second part of our tale? *he grimaces and shakes his head* Thianna got into my head a bit too much, but it all ends up well. Better than well. Speaking of which, she also got into my head quite a bit in the third part. *cocks brow at author* Stop that. *grins*  Blurb: As Natural as Breathing – Book One For Christian Darringer, life isn't worth living. Just back from the Middle East—scarred and with permanent damage to one leg—he doesn't think anyone will want him for anything. He didn't plan on meeting someone he can’t stop thinking about. Pulled toward the startling younger man, he begins to question a lot of things—especially his sexuality. Not one to hide from a challenge, he plunges ahead only to find himself more than just attracted to Logan. Logan Mannette has almost everything he ever wanted: loving parents, happiness, friends, and security. The only thing missing is the love of his life, a love just like his parents have. When he meets Christian at a party, everything changes. Instantly attracted, he does his best to help the sad man and quickly finds himself feeling more than he has ever felt before. Raised in a domestic discipline household, he holds that ideal as what he wants. His interest in spanking has become a fetish and when Christian admits he wants to be spanked, Logan believes he might have found the perfect man. Just as everything begins for them, Christian's past intercedes and one of his brothers makes waves about him dating a man. When it lands Christian in the hospital, he is forced to reevaluate their budding romance. Being with Logan might feel as natural as breathing, but if it costs Christian everything he cares about, is this new relationship worth it? Took My Breath Away – Book Two While unhappy to be missing four weeks of Christian's company, Logan is thrilled to spend a month with his father's relatives in New York. A naturally gregarious individual, he’s used to winning people over and getting things right. Unfortunately the Mannettes are not what he expects and for the first time in his life, he doubts who he is. Christian has regained some of his old self-esteem and is taking on new challenges. Besides growing in the relationship he has with Logan, he takes the time his boyfriend is away to learn more about domestic discipline. He learns a little online but it is Gregory, Logan's father, where he gains most of his information. Including the fact that his natural strength puts him in a position he doesn’t expect. Logan hits rock bottom and Christian runs to the rescue. He saves Logan from New York, but puts their relationship in a new sort of peril. When the dust settles, who will be left on top? Breathe Each Other In – Book Three Christian takes to heart everything he learns from Logan's father. As he and Logan go forward in their DD relationship, he finds that he’s willing to not just take on the mantle of head of house, but to embrace it. With Logan graduating from college, Christian takes the next logical step and asks his boyfriend to move in. Even with the stress of student teaching and trying to figure out what to do after graduation, Logan leaps at the chance to live with the man he loves. The pressure of graduation begins to get to him and the only thing keeping him grounded is the amazing man at his side. Those closest to them make huge changes in their own lives and when an unexpected job offer lands in Logan's lap, they have to make a life-altering decision. No matter which way they go, they need to give something up. Play it safe and stay home or accept the job and move away from their families? When it comes to decision time, there is one thing they are not willing to part with. That one thing makes all the difference in the world. All They Ever Needed Boxed Set: This boxed set contains the first three books (As Natural as Breathing, Took My Breath Away, & Breathe Each Other In) in the All They Ever Needed M/M Domestic Discipline Romance series. Buy The BooksAs Natural as Breathing: A Thia Thing || Amazon || B&N || iTunes || Smashwords || Paperback Took My Breath Away: A Thia Thing || Amazon || B&N || iTunes || Smashwords || Paperback Breathe Each Other In: A Thia Thing || Amazon || B&N || iTunes || Smashwords || Paperback All They Ever Needed Boxed Set: A Thia Thing || Amazon || B&N || iTunes || Smashwords Meet Thianna Durston Thianna Durston is a writer by day and supernova by night. Or at least that’s what the faeries tell her. And who is she to deny those pesky *cough* lovely little creatures? She lives in the Pacific Northwest, though her heart belongs elsewhere. In the meantime, until she can return to the place she calls home, she happily lives in a city that still thinks it’s a small town. Thankfully, it has given her muse lots of amusing places to start a story.  Hello and welcome to Reader Corner! Ever since my very first book was published a highlight for me has been interacting with readers. I love learning about others and giving them a place to tell us about themselves. If you're interested in joining the fun email me at[email protected] or use the contact link at the top of the page. Today I'd like to welcome batchelorboy55! He's a pretty neat guy and I was delighted he shared some of himself with me. Jumping right in, would you tell us a little about yourself? I am: a gay man a hubs a father a grandfather Australian retired but most of all I am. What are your hobbies? duh! Reading with a lifelong quest for trivia, interrupted by our garden haven (http://thebatchelorpad.tumblr.com ) Elizabeth's note: batchelorboy55 modestly dropped that link in without much explanation. I followed the link. I won't spoil the surprise, but suffice to say it's amazing. Do you have pets, and if so tell me about them?  Why were you drawn to this genre? Snatching covert reads as I tried to identify why I was interested in reading MM and subsequently more about myself. I continue to search & read first-time authors, good action/mystery and different locations with a bias for anything set in Australia/New Zealand, Hawaii and Wales/Cornwall. Why do you like this genre? It so often affirms my presence as a gay man, but also fills in for some of the years in denial/unbeknown. How did you discover MM romance and gay literature? I originally read this as when? Answer: 1970s, as I said covertly through until I came out in 1994. How? As a librarian we just know these things. As a cataloguer I had access to books before they went into the public library network. What are your reading habits? I’ve been known to snatch some pages while in the drive-thru of McDonald’s. Simply; anywhere, anytime. Do you prefer paperback, hard cover or eBooks? I love paperback/hardback and have cherished print collection of 1500 gay fiction. I embraced reading in the digital age in 2007 when my job as Information Services Librarian allowed me the opportunity to explore emerging technologies and promote/demonstrate/instruct staff & students at a multi sector Indigenous learning Institute. After medical retirement my kindle & tablet have become a lifeline as I can read an adjusted font size. I can’t manage 8pt paperbacks very well anymore. But have been known to purchase the print release in a continuing series. If you’re an eBook lover tell me about your favorite devices? Tricks and recommendations welcomed! Started with Kindle, long before they were available in Australia. I steadfastly cling to AmazonUS as it serves my needs better than .com.au. Having said that, I also strive to purchase where the author gets the best bite of the biscuit/cookie. This means I have taught myself tricks like calbire – which not only reformats files (into .mobi or whatever) but also has the capacity to correct the metadata. It’s amazing how much easier it is to finding documents when they have been corrected. send to kindle – which allows you to upload to your kindle .azw, .mobi, .prc files from your desktop. epubor – which can strip most encryptions and then convert to .mobi (or whatever) LibraryThing – is where I chose to data manage my collection. Yes I looked at Goodreads, but I find LT comfortable as its file structure is more like traditional cataloguing. After all it was 1967 when I catalogued my first book (ouch, 50 years) https://www.librarycat.org/lib/gsc55 or http://www.librarything.com/profile/gsc55 feedly – to monitor sites using RSS feeds rather than signing up for newsletters. twitter – I use only for giveaway entries What’s a favorite recipe? Black Forest Pavlova, but my yuletide fave is Wassail. What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie? Film: Latter Days TV: anything crime/mystery, but I will admit to being a Whovian before it was fashionable. What music do you listen to? I was a (mediocre) keyboard player up until the hand/eye coordination (or lack there-of) became embarrassing. This meant I was more inclined to play than listen, and then more likely to listen to music TV shows like Bandstand, Countdown (Aus), even Name that tune (go ahead and laugh UK mob). My fondest memories are of playing keyboard for church services & events. I would draw on poignant music from movie soundtracks, often generating a puzzled request for what was the tune it sounded familiar. Ennio Morricone The Mission, Elton John Song for Guy, The English Patient, Schindler’s list, Stairway to Heaven and Whiter Shade of Pale (using the understory of notes rather than the melody line), Enya. Yep, even snuck in I dreamed a dream after a sermon based on Acts 2:17. Even got a chance to play the pipe organ at the church where Mum & Dad grew up & married (they came to the TopEnd of the Territory as Methodist missionaries from Brighton, Sth Aust. during the 50s). Addendum: As I re-read I have missed out on the years as a passable tenor with the Darwin Chorale, a chorus boy for several local productions, and some years as Stage/Production/Asst.director when hearing loss prompted a move off stage. Why did you decide to do this interview? I don’t really know, although I do have a psych report labelling me as narcissistic. In reality though, it’s about why I read MM fiction. We have so many stories in our real life and our escapes, that it is always great to share them. What is your favorite type of romance plot or trope? Once I was on a pension I had to start budgeting, something I occasionally abandon. I am mainly focused on must-have authors and continuations of series. SO Charlie Cochrane, Julie Bozza, RJ Scott, Josh Lanyon, Anthony Bidulka, Mark Abramson, Geoffrey Knight, Jeffrey Round, Max Vos, Greg Herren, James Lear, Mark Zubro, Michael Jensen, Scot Pomfret, Gyles Brandreth, Neil Plakcy, Tal Bauer, Harper Fox, AJ Llewellyn, Brent Hartinger etc, etc, etc. Most re-read I own is The Front Runner, by Patricia Nell Warren. Do you ever go to conventions to meet authors? Do you like to interact with authors on social media? Conventions & meets both fascinate me and terrify me. I too easily throw myself under the bus in crowded spaces and the anticipation of saying the right/wrong thing. However, I relish the opportunities social media allows me to effuse and swap stories with authors (& publishers) What other types of books/magazines do you read? Not even the daily paper. I use RSS sources online for news (my professional background helps me to declare a site fake news). I’m not in a glasshouse, but I am content with a lifestyle of reading (anywhere in our garden), social media exchanges and tending said garden. What do you like in a book’s cover art? Ah, a telling question. When I decided to create a facebook page to share from my collection (now almost 7000 titles of gay fiction) I realized I needed something simple where I could maintain my momentum. I have never been comfortable reviewing, in fact the joke is that for a librarian I have always had poor reading comprehension skills, to the extent that I had to re-take my high school finals to get university entry, and then 3 years of “remedial” English to get my degree. So it came to pass that I chose Judge a Book by its Gay Cover. Cover art so often gets me into trouble with the book budget. What are your favorite flowers? Gerbras are a connection I have with my mother. Gingers and heliconias are the connection I have with the tropics. Grevilleas and natives are the connection I have with the hubs. The love of a garden is the connection I have with my father, and his father. What’s your favorite drinks? Above I mentioned Wassail. But Southern Comfort on ice has been a consistent fave. These days a glass or three of bubbles, red or coffee somewhere about the garden (not bad for a no-longer Methodist, LOL)  batchelorboy55 manages a Facebook page, Judge A Book by Its Gay Cover.
 Hello and welcome to Reader Corner! Ever since my very first book was published a highlight for me has been interacting with readers. I love learning about others and giving them a place to tell us about themselves. If you're interested in joining the fun email me at[email protected] or use the contact link at the top of the page. This week I welcome Elizabeth Beltz who has awesome hair! I love the color. Elizabeth was so kind to answer some questions and she has lots to share with us. It was a pleasure getting to know another reader.  Tell me a little about yourself? I’m single, just passed by 43rd birthday and spend my life with paper (either reading it for fun or shoveling it for pay) and playing with my hair color. Do you have pets, and if so tell me about them? I don’t currently have a pet, but am definitely a cat person. The picture is my best cat ever, Wedge (a.k.a. the attitude wrapped in fur).  Wedge How did you discover MM romance and gay literature? My BFF, Amelia C. Gormley, sent me the first seven Cut & Run books for my birthday one year because she wanted to talk about them with somebody. Ty and Zane became a highly addictive gateway drug—I’ve given up trying to kick the habit and have embraced the fall down the rabbit hole. Do you prefer paperback, hard cover or eBooks? I tend to keep buying a series in the format I started it. That said, you can’t beat the smell of a brand new book *or* the convenience of an e-reader. Please reference the question about reading habits. If you’re an eBook lover tell me about your favorite devices? I usually read in a Nook app on my iPad. It can be a scary thing having a credit card and a device where I can buy the book, tap a couple of times and start reading . . . talk about instant gratification. What’s a favorite recipe? I can’t cook worth a damn, but I absolutely love to bake and indulge both my cheesecake habit: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/creamy-cappuccino-cheesecake/2be85bc0-a755-41df-b879-f13f46351166 and love of homemade chocolate cake: https://www.hersheys.com/kitchens/en_us/recipes/hersheys-perfectly-chocolate-chocolate-cake.html It’s from a different recipe, but I made my Dad a birthday cake last year (he loves tigers) and a giant jello shot for getting together with friends for Christmas. Your baking looks amazing! Thank you for sharing the recipes with us. I'm definitely going to try that cheesecake.
 What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie? I am currently obsessed with Shadowhunters because, after all, Malec is life. That said, my regular tv viewing schedule (3 rounds of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Bones, 24, etc.) has a body count that resembles a Rhys Ford novel. Why did you decide to do this interview? Seemed like something both fun and a bit out of my comfort zone. I need to do more of both. Do you ever go to conventions to meet authors? Do you like to interact with authors on social media? This year will be my fourth GRL (my flamingo companion Mingo’s second) and being able to talk to the people who craft the stories I love is one of the best things ever, followed closely by their willingness to answer strange questions in their Facebook groups. What’s your favorite drinks? I love fuzzy, fruity, “chick” drinks. There’s a local mexican restaurant that has a frozen mango/peach margarita that is to die for. If I want to go cheap and am willing to wash the damn blender, I’ll mix a small can of pineapple juice, 4 or 5 scoops of orange sherbet and a generous portion of peach schnapps.  More Yummm!!  Hello and welcome to Reader Corner! Ever since my very first book was published a highlight for me has been interacting with readers. I love learning about others and giving them a place to tell us about themselves. If you're interested in joining the fun email me at[email protected] or use the contact link at the top of the page. Hello and welcome back to another round of Reader Corner! This week I am pleased to have been able to learn about more about a wonderful gentleman, Stanley Errington.  Sketch by Stanley Errington Elizabeth: Would you tell us a little about yourself? Stanley: I’m an artist, fashion designer and teacher, though that wasn’t always the case as I was a psychiatric nurse for twenty years until an assault by a patient left me with a damaged spine. I do like to think of myself as a ‘glass half full’ person, and although disabled I’m grateful to be alive, and when I hit 60 next year I will be looking forward to the next chapter of my life! Elizabeth: What are your hobbies? Stanley: Other than reading, I enjoy drawing, sewing, visiting art galleries and travelling. I also enjoy foreign language films and thought I would learn a new language and chose Swedish, though to be honest I understand it a lot better than I speak it! Elizabeth: Why were you drawn to this genre? Stanley: As a gay man, I think it was inevitable, although it was a female friend who got me started! Elizabeth: Why do I like this genre? Stanley: I enjoy the wide variety of characters that reflect both positive and negative aspects of gay men, and I like to immerse myself in their stories, probably because I’m an old romantic. Elizabeth: How did I discover M/M romance and gay literature? Stanley: A female friend recommended ‘Dirty Kiss’ by Rhys Ford, and after that I was hooked Elizabeth: What are your reading habits? Stanley: I make time to read every day, be it ten minutes or a couple of hours, and before I go to sleep I listen to audio books Elizabeth: Do you prefer paperbacks, hard cover or e-books? Stanley: I love all formats of books, but lately because of my arthritis I tend to read more e-books, and usually on my smart phone or tablet. Elizabeth: Favourite TV show and/or movie Stanley: My favourite TV show is ‘Game of Thrones’ followed closely by ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’, which is an annual song contest that started in 1956 and it also happens to be one of the campest shows on TV. My favourite all time film is ‘Camille’, the original with Greta Garbo Elizabeth: What music do you listen to? Stanley: I have a varied taste in music, but my favourites are – Abba (‘The Winner Takes It All’ is my all-time favourite song), Celine Dion, Nanne Gronvall, Kim Jae Joong and Versailles. Elizabeth: Why did you decide to do the interview? Stanley: Bottom line – I thought it would be fun, and something different – which it was! Elizabeth: What is your favourite type of romance plot? Stanley: I can honestly say that I don’t have a favourite type of plot, just as long as the writing is good (but I do like a happy ending). Elizabeth: Who are your favourite authors? Stanley: I have books by a wide variety of authors but in particular I have three favourites; Rhys Ford, Rick R Reed and TJ Klune. When I read books by any of these three I know I’m going to be taken on a wonderful journey, where I might laugh or cry, be on the edge of my seat, or all three, but I know I’m going to enjoy their work.  Dress designed by Stanley Errington  Hello and welcome to Reader Corner! Ever since my very first book was published a highlight for me has been interacting with readers. I love learning about others and giving them a place to tell us about themselves. If you're interested in joining the fun email me at[email protected] or use the contact link at the top of the page.  Celest and Eric This week I welcome Celest Nagel Fitzpatrick. She has a shining sense of humor that came right through in her answers. Elizabeth: Tell us a little about yourself? Celest: I’m 35, married for almost 14 years, and live just south of Portland, OR. I’m an accounting assistant for a labor union and really love my job, just not the drive. Because of my long commute, I’ve just started listening to audiobooks and I’m really glad I did. I’m currently listening to Tales of the Harker Pack by Tara Lain. I am the oldest of five girls, though only raised with two of my sisters. I’ve just met the other two within the last couple of years. I have a tattoo that represents all five of our birthstones in one celtic knot. Elizabeth: Do you have hobbies? Celest: If I’m not working, I’m either reading, hiking, or volunteering. I spend most of my free time (and sometimes not-so-free time) reading. Now that I’ve started listening to audiobooks on my commute to and from work, I now have the ability to go through two books at the same time. I have recently started hiking and can’t wait for the weather to cooperate so I can find more fun places to visit. For the last two years, I have volunteered for the AARP Tax-Aide program preparing taxes for low-to-middle income taxpayers and seniors. It is a wonderful program that helps take the pressure of those that are confused by the tax system. This year, I added instructing new volunteers to my plate and found it to be a great learning experience as there are so many volunteers from different walks of life that bring different levels of experience to the program. There are different roles for different people and not all volunteers prepare taxes. Some translate and some act as greeters/facilitators. I highly encourage anyone that wants to volunteer for a worthy cause look into the program.  Elizabeth: Do you have pets, and if so tell us about them? Celest: We don’t have any kids but we have a dog and a cat. Our dog Sammy is a five-year-old, 30-pound, beagle-lab mix that is a big mamma’s boy. Nothing is worse than having to look him in the eyes when I have to pack an overnight bag or when I leave in the morning. He enjoys playing with his two canine cousins but prefers people. Our cat is a gray-tuxedo, two-year-old jerk that has his sweet moments (though far and few between).  Elizabeth: How did you discover MM romance and gay literature? Celest: I actually stumbled onto it. I was at a large national bookstore chain looking for a new book and came across Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas. There were some m/m scenes that I found hot and started looking for more stories like it. It was actually m/m books that got me hooked on e-readers; first the Nook and now the Kindle. Elizabeth: What are your reading habits? Celest: I read and it’s a habit. I read anytime I can and I go through withdrawals if I forget my Kindle at home. Elizabeth: What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie? Celest: My husband and I love watching Making the Team: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, American Ninja Warrior, and The Big Bang Theory. Most nights that we have together include at least two or more episodes of TBBT and we record our other shows when they’re on and use the weekends to catch up. Currently, my favorite movies are Moana and the new Beauty and the Beast. Here in a month or so, my husband and I plan on watching a double feature of Guardians of the Galaxy. BTW: if anyone lives near Portland and wants to go see Beauty and the Beast, find me on Facebook and I would love to go. Elizabeth: Why did you decide to do this interview? Celest: I thought it would be a great way to interact with others while getting out of my comfort zone. As much as I would love to meet a bunch of my favorite authors as well as other readers, I am a complete introvert and need to get to know people in smaller groups. Elizabeth: Do you ever go to conventions to meet authors? Do you like to interact with authors on social media? Celest: The only convention-like event that I’ve been to is the Gay Romance Northwest Meetup. I’ve gone the last two years and have enjoyed getting to know some Pacific NW authors. This year, they’ve changed the name to Read with Pride Northwest. I look forward to attending this year’s event to see what other changes may happen. Some of the authors I’ve met before and hope to get to see again are Amber Kell, Rick R. Reed, Annabeth Albert, and Charley Descoteaux. Hopefully, sometime in the next few years, I will get a chance to attend GRL so I can meet even more of my favorite authors like Andrew Grey, Jacob Z. Flores, Charlie Cochet, and Amy Lane. While I like to follow them on social media, I don’t really interact much but that’s more social awkwardness than anything. Elizabeth: What other types of books/magazines do you read? Celest: Before I stumbled on to gay romance, I read lots of Harlequin books, of all varieties. I’m currently reading Lori Foster’s Buckhorn Brothers series. I love her contemporary romances. I also enjoy reading Nora Roberts. Elizabeth: What do you like in a book’s cover art? Celest: I’m absolutely horrible and judge most books by their covers. If I’m browsing online, I gravitate towards covers that have kids or animals or covers that use light, softer colors. If a book has a dark cover or difficult-to-read writing, If I don’t see the cover before reading a blurb or review, it likely won’t bother me as much.  Thank you, Celest (and Eric) for sharing your family and a bit of yourself with us! We are all lucky to have people like you as part of our reader community.
 Blurb: In the mountains of New Mexico lives a group of boys who are inseparable. That is until they grow up and one of them leaves the rez to fulfill his dream. One of the boys misses him more than the others. A love that started as children grew with him and when Angel Quintana left New Mexico, Garcia Blacksnake had to occupy his time until the love of his life returned. Angel came back when tragedy struck, with secrets he does not want this old friends to know. Secrets about the life he lived as his dreams came true, turning to nightmares he could not run away from. Can childhood friends help save him from a sadistic man who holds Angel’s dream in his hand? Can Garcia’s love help him to trust himself and others again? Excerpt: “Cool. Let me put it on you.” He took the cross back and moved Garcia’s hair from his left ear, where his older brother, Kevin, had pierced the lobe with a sewing needle a year before. After he slipped the hook into Garcia’s hole, he stopped to admire it for a second. Garcia turned his face a little, and before Angel knew what was happening, their lips were touching. Neither moved, their breathing getting quick as they waited for the other to jump away, but neither did. Garcia smelled so good, his lips were so soft, Angel found himself moving his hands to Garcia’s long, thin face. Garcia pushed his lips harder against Angel’s and Angel felt his friend shaking. Holding his face tighter, Angel kissed him harder, moving his lips a little like he’d seen on television. When he pulled back he saw the cross catch the sunlight and he was brought from his daze for a second before he smiled. “Angel?” “What, Garcia?” “Promise you’ll never leave me behind, okay?” Angel knew he couldn’t make that promise, but he touched the earring and swore, “As long as you have this we’ll never be apart. Not really. Okay?” Garcia looked down and said, “Okay.” He sat quiet again, then said, “Angel, I won’t tell anybody, okay?” “Okay.” He started to get up and added, “But it can’t happen again. Not only are we guys, but now we’re family.” Garcia grinned and got up with him, while he was collecting his shirt and tie and getting them back on. “I thought you said we aren’t?” “Shut up, Garcia!”  Publisher: Self-published Cover Artist: Rain Carrington Words: 101,697 PurchaseMeet Rain Carrington Rain Carrington started writing when she was just a teenager in Trinidad, Colorado but didn’t start writing M/M romance until much later. Through the years many of her gay male friends told stories of heartache and the struggle to find “the one” so she told them stories, fantasies all about them and their future cowboy, fireman, biker or policeman. When she found a writing site that encouraged her to write them down she started what was an adventure like she never had before. Her first story, Cabin fever, about a young man searching for love and finding it wrapped in a member of a mafia family gained her readers who cheered for more. She knew then that she had found her place in the world. To make stories of love and kink that not only her readers but she could get lost in as well. Rain now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado but has traveled most of the US. Her last road trip to San Francisco gave her characters still coming out…no pun intended…in her newer stories. Rain has severe scoliosis which makes it hard for her to do all the things she used to love but it did give her the time to write that she never had before. She fights for lgbt rights from her home as best she can now and keeps in close contact with her friends that fight on two good legs to point them where they should go. She is a fervent believer that one door never closes without another opening so there are no limits she can’t get past. Of all the people in the world no one has encouraged and supported her like her friends, many of them writers themselves, and her family. There is never a dull moment in her home where laughter is in the air 24/7 and everyone knows to avoid the computer screen when she sits in front of it. They never know what kind of beautiful man love they may see. Rain calls it research, they call it, “there she goes again!” Rain was kind enough to answer a few questions! Can you share something about your works in progress? I am just starting Hot Air Balloon, another stand alone in the Enchantment series. I am also starting Big Bad Mooney, fifth in the Apishipa Creek Chronicles. Hot Air balloon will continue the little tradition I have created for myself with the third book in a series being a menage. Silly but I think it’s cute. It is going to have intrigue, murder, cops and criminals, sadness and joy. Big Bad Mooney will be about a Dom who is in love for the first time in his fifty years, only he has health issues that keep him from committing. The man he loves is much younger, so it’s a May/December romance, that is a favorite of mine. Anyone can buy the rights to name a star. What would you name a star bought for you? Barbera Ann, for my late mother Do you buy a book because of the cover, the blurb, or some other reason? I have bought books for all of those, but I love when a friend directs me to one he or she knows I will love. Do you have a library card and know where it is? Yes I do on both counts. I love libraries! I could spend hours in them. Before the internet I would go there day after day to research a topic I found interesting. Tour Dates/Stops 1-Dec Rainbow Gold Reviews Love Bytes 2-Dec Charley Descoteaux Jade Crystal 3-Dec Because Two Men Are Better Than One MM Good Book Reviews 4-Dec Amanda C. Stone Up All Night, Read All Day 5-Dec Bayou Book Junkie Emotion in Motion 8-Dec My Fiction Nook Cate Ashwood 9-Dec Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews LeAnn’s Book Reviews Inked Rainbow Reads 10-Dec BFD Book Blog Velvet Panic 11-Dec Wicked Wolves and Dreaming Dragons Cathy Brockman Romances 12-Dec Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words Molly Lolly   The next in the Vasquez & James series Hello! Today I'm joined by...okay that's not entirely accurate. Todd and Nick Ruger are guest hosting (shanghied) my blog right now. Their special, and very unexpected guests are Sonny James and Luki Vasquez, Lou came along for the ride.
Hi, I’m Lou Sylvre and the reason I’m whispering is because the back seat of Sonny James Mustang is not very far from Luki’s ears, and Luki is sleeping. Not on purpose—I think he’s hypnotized by the monotony of the road. Either that or he’s deliberately snoozing because Sonny is humming while he drives, and he hums very badly. Very, very badly. When Luki is awake he tends to silence me with a piercing look from his cold blue eyes if I speak, so this is an opportunity to catch you up on the road trip. We’ve been on the road for most of the past twelve hours (with a couple of breaks), heading west on I-90. We left Portsmouth, New Hampshire this morning, and we’re heading for Ohio to visit with Elizabeth Noble. It was Luki’s idea. He knows Elizabeth’s character Todd Ruger—they chatted some at the Fictional Badass Association meeting last May. They didn’t exactly click, but they did agree Frodo shouldn’t have been the keynote speaker. Anyway, Luki thought it would be nice, since we’re on the Saving Sonny James Road Trip Blog Tour to stop in and see Elizabeth, and she said we’d be welcome—my thanks to her for letting us visit. We’re just about ready to cross into Ohio now, so it won’t be long... Oh my god! What just happened? I… I can’t really see for all the dust in the air. There was a huge noise. Oh no… Luki! Sonny! Where are you? Where am I? Where’s the Mustang? “Be quiet,” Luki’s voice comes to me, and then I see him standing there, combing the dust out of his curls with his fingers. “Sonny,” he calls out, then trots over to a figure hunched on the ground. “Baby! Can you hear me? Are you okay? Can you stand up?” “Calm down, husband.” Sonny’s voice does sound oddly calm in this—what? I can’t even guess what has happened. He stands up. “I’m fine, of course.” “Why were you on the ground?” “Dropping and covering, as I was taught to do in the event of nuclear attack.” Sonny dusts off Luki’s shoulders. Luki brushes away Sonny’s hand, which is an event in itself. “Well, sweetie,” he says, a tone of annoyed sarcasm in the words, “if that was a nuclear attack I think it was a dud. But I wonder where we are?” Sonny looks around, sees me. “Ms. Sylvre, you’re okay?” “Yes, although—” “A simple yes or no is plenty,” Luki interjects. “Honey?” Sonny is walking around the immediate area, peering this way and that. “Have you seen the Mustang anywhere?” “No. But I think we have more serious troubles. I don’t see anything but rocks, a wide river and grass with a light dusting of snow. This is definitely not I-90.” They were surrounded by trees, blocking the view. “If we don’t find somebody that can explain… this, then we… Fuck, I don’t know.” Meanwhile, a dozen yards away on the other side of the trees… “It was over here. Todd, I know I heard something over—” A guy, slightly taller than Sonny with thick brown hair and wearing a collar came around what appeared to be a bend in a dirt road and stopped short. “Oh. Uh, hello.” “Nicky, who are you…well darn.” Todd Ruger came up to the little gathering in the copse, and tossed off some words at Luki. “If you want a mustang, Mr. Vasquez, there is a herd near here. They’re wild. Catch one and keep it if you want. He turned to his mate and spoke with a completely different expression and tone. “Nick, this is the guy I met at that convention you harangued me into attending.” “It was supposed to make you more sociable,” the guy, Nick, said. “I’m very sociable.” “No, you’re not.” Nick’s voice was joined by Luki’s. Sonny was currently ignoring them, looking now up in the treetops, as if he thought his car might have gotten stuck up there. Todd snorted. “Whatever. How’d you guys get here and why are you looking for a mustang. We have horses you can borrow, not mustangs though.” He turned to Nick. “Was that sociable enough for you?” Nick grinned and shrugged. “It’ll do.” “Luki Vasquez, this is my mate, Nick Ruger.” Todd turned to Lou and Sonny, nodding. “Hello. Welcome to Yellowknife Protectorate.” He smirked in Luki’s direction. “Maybe you could introduce us?” The only thing Luki could sputter out was, “This is your slave? Not what I expected at all.” Todd smiled. “Welcome to my world.” Sonny came over just then, mumbling to himself and shaking his head. “I don’t get it. Everything was fine. We were on the highway…” He noticed everyone looking at him, finally, and stepped forward brushing off his hands. “Hey, I’m Sonny James, Luki’s husband." Nick said, “Oh, yes. I’ve heard you do some beautiful artwork, in your tapestries. I’d love to see them sometime.” “I wish I could show them to you right now. I hear you do some pretty fine drawing, yourself. I think it might be tough for us to ever share, since we’re usually in different worlds. We’re in your world now, I take it?” When Nick nodded, looking thoughtful, Sonny asked a second question. “Any idea how that happened?” Nick shook his head. “No,” he said, “I’m sorry. But maybe Todd can figure it out—he’s been out and about in the world longer than I, if you know what I mean.” Before Sonny could answer, Todd spoke up, his comments relevant to Sonny’s questions, but speaking mostly to Luki—one badass to another, more or less. “No,” he said, bluntly. “Haven’t got a clue but it’s going to be dark and we left our horses over by the river. Let’s get them and head back to our farm and get some food. We’ll try to figure out a next step tonight, but we may not be able to do anything until morning.” *** Well, Lou here again… that little conversation worried me. Had they forgotten me altogether? The four of them headed for the river, and I got up to follow, but when I put weight on my right ankle it became clear I had indeed been injured. I didn’t think Luki was aware of me at all, but as Sonny is fond of pointing out, he’s really much kinder than he tries to pretend. He came back and probed my ankle, turned it this way and that. The motions hurt, but I could see him cringe when I exclaimed, and I knew he was trying to be gentle. “I don’t think it’s broken, Ms. Sylvre, but you’d better not put full weight on it. Can you walk if I support you?” I (rather bravely I thought) said I’d do my best. He helped me up, and all three of the other men came over, looking concerned. Every one of them acted like they wanted to help, but it was Todd who ended up supporting me on the other side. “It’s treacherous ground up ahead, Ms. Sylvre, but I think Luki and I can get you to the river. Then you can ride. Nick has plenty of medical supplies at home. We’ll get you fixed up.” I was thankful and if I hadn’t been hurting, I would have been in one of the higher levels of heaven. But I was hurting, and as the sun fell I was also getting cold. Imagine my surprise when Luki took his warm wool-lined leather jacket and put it over my shoulders. What a sweet guy. Thoughts about pain and the sweetness of badasses occupied my mind as we negotiated the road and then a rocky climb down to the river. But then I almost fell over as Todd nearly dropped me. “Uh, Nicky?” he said. “How did our horses get on the other side of that river?” “I didn’t do it,” Nick said. “Don’t worry, Ms. Sylvre, I’ve got some decent pain killers at home. It’s not far, or wouldn’t be if we didn’t have to cross the river.” “Well, how bad can it be? It’s just a river,” Sonny said. He wandered dangerously close to the muddy bank. “It doesn’t look like it goes very fast.” Turning and walking backward as he spoke, Sonny continued. “Looks like we can just wade across here.” “No!” Todd held out his free hand. “It’s a lot deeper than it looks,” Nick added and sprinted at Sonny. Too late. Sonny must have hit a slippery spot along the bank, or maybe some slim covered rock, but it didn’t matter the effect was the same. His feet went up into the air and his ass plummeted earthward, or more exactly riverward. A hearty kersplash and Sonny was in the water. Then he was under the water and moving down stream. Fast. “Shit,” Todd muttered and left me to run for the river. “Crap.” Nick was right behind him. Todd must have hit the same slippery spot, he did some sort of uncoordinated quick step before his feet slid out from under him and he hit the muddy ground. “Nice save,” Nick said. “Shuddup. We need rope,” Todd grumbled. “We need to get my husband out of that water!” Luki let go of me and ran toward the river. Apparently he hadn’t learned from Todd and Sonny since he ended up mud covered and on his considerably finely attired ass. He tried to scramble up out of the mud, but it was almost like quicksand, and seemed to suck him down toward the water. I sat there helpless as he slid helplessly down the bank, and the two already in deep flailed and shivered. It reminded me of the events in Saving Sonny James where Sonny swam out too far in the straits. Luki rescued him then, but that just wasn’t happening this time. I struggled to my feet but I was just no use. Fortunately Nick really had his stuff together. He ran back to a small brush covered hunting blind I hadn’t noticed before. He came out with a thick rope, knotting it as he high-tailed it back to the bank. He hit the muddy patch, but was better prepared than Luki had been and avoided getting stuck or losing his balance. I struggled to my feet again; by this time the moon had risen and its light limned a long, almost straight branch that had gotten stuck between some rocks. A serviceable crutch. I made my way down to the bank. Todd had run into some trouble, finding it hard to keep his footing in the muck. I called out, “Todd, take the end of the branch with one hand, I’ll anchor you from here.” “Good idea,” he said, and followed suit. He threw the rope out, and Sonny latched on, then Todd. So far, so good, but when Luki took hold, the weight of all those muscles pulled Nick and me down the bank and Luki splashed right out into the current. They were all three trying to fight the current, but they were losing. I was no help at all after that—I had wrenched my wrist when I landed on a rock. Thank god for Nick. He’s stronger than he looks, and very smart, and he wasn’t about to let the river take his mate—or anyone else if he could help it. Back on his feet, he shouted, “Grab the rope again! Don’t let go!” He turned his back to the river, hunched down, and holding the rope with two hands, belayed it over his shoulder, and hauled with all his hidden strength. And it worked. Sonny, the strongest swimmer, got close enough to the bank to swim up to the shallows. Once there, he dug in his heels and lent his own wiry strength to the task. Luki and Todd made it to within a few feet of him, dropped the rope and wrapped arms over each other’s shoulders, helping each other the rest of the way. All of the men who’d been in the water were weak and shivering, but Nick ran to and from the cache and brought back dry tinder and a few chunks of wood and a striker. In no time he had a fire going. Luki, though I know he barely had half the strength he usually had, nevertheless came over and lifted me as if I was no heavier than a child, and settled me by the fire. I was blubbering, and I was going to give him his jacket back, but Nick said, “No, hold on to it, Miss Lou,” and in minutes had everyone covered in blankets, eating chocolate bars, and watching coffee boil. “Nicky,” Todd said, still shivering a little. “First, I really love you. Second, where did that cache of stuff come from?” “Oh, Todd! Don’t you know. Miss Elizabeth puts them around for us in case of emergency—we can use them as long as we’re not actually in a book.” “How did you know?” Todd looked totally perplexed. “She told me.” “Elizabeth Noble told you about these emergency hoards?” “Uh-huh. I thought she told you, too,” Nick said sheepishly. “Nope. She likes you best, like I said before.” “Todd, don’t say things like that. Just remember to write her a thank you note.” “Good idea. I think I’ll send her a little tapestry.” Sonny looked relaxed now that Todd had passed him a cup of hot camp coffee. “Okay, I’ll get in on this, too,” Luki said. “I’ll sing her a song.” And he did, he started right into the strains of a song I loved when I, Lou Sylvre, was a teenager. “You and I must make a pact… we will bring salvation back.” How fitting. All of these guys were there for each other, petty disagreements shoved aside. Badasses are nicer than they look, and nice guys are stronger than they look, but in the end, every character needs his author. Note: due to some nasty spamming I had to implement some security for now. Comments will be approved ASAP. Sorry. Saving Sonny James Blurb: Luki Vasquez and his still newlywed husband are back home after pulling off a harrowing desert rescue of their teenage nephew Jackie. But the events of the last couple of years have begun to catch up with Luki—loving Sonny James and letting Sonny love him back has left gaps in his emotional armor. In the gunfight that secured Jackie’s rescue, Luki’s bullet killed a young guard, an innocent boy in Luki’s mind. In the grip of PTSD, memories, flashbacks, and nightmares consume him, and he falls into deep, almost vegetative depression. Sonny devotes his days to helping Luki, putting his own career on hold, even passing up a European tour of galleries and schools—an opportunity that might never come again. But when Luki’s parasomnia turns his nightmares into real-world terror, it breaks the gridlock. Sonny realizes what he’s doing isn’t working, and he says yes to Europe. Enter Harold Breslin, a dangerously intelligent artist’s promoter and embezzler whose obsessive desire for Sonny is exceeded only by his narcissism. When Harold’s plan for Sonny turns poisonous, Luki must break free of PTSD and get to France fit and ready in time to save his husband’s life. Now for the part every one is waiting for: The Give Away. Lou is offering one lucky reader who comments below their choice of any ebook from the series Vasquez & James. I'm offering another reader their pick of any of the Sentry series ebooks. I'll announce the winners on Friday November 1, that gives you a whole week. The winners will need to have a Dreamspinner account. It's free. To claim your book you'll need to give us the email associated with that account. That way you can pick whatever format or formats you'd like. Good luck and don't forget to mention which series you'd like to win a book from in your comments below. A few weeks ago I was privileged enough to have Lex Chase interview me and post said interview on her blog. I'm reposting it here for anyone who didn't see it when it originally went up.  Dreamspinner Press author Elizabeth Noble may appear like an unassuming veterinary nurse, but in fiction she delights readers with post-apocalyptic worlds and the will to survive. Her new release in the long running “Sentries” series is the fourth volume called “Collared Souls” is due out April 3, and she elaborated on the next chapter in the characters Todd and Nick’s lives.
“The story takes place in the future, several hundred years after a natural disaster drastically alters society and things as we know it,” she said via email interview. “There is sex, monsters, horses, fights, betrayal, something for everyone. The series centers around Todd Ruger, a very special kind of hunter and his slave Nick. Bonded as children they become true comrades in arms, fighting side by side against foes both seen and unseen. Bound by love, they are mates for life, each willing to do what it takes to protect the other. Fourth in the series is titled ‘Collared Souls’ and our guys go back to the village where Nick was raised. There they not only discover personal history, but uncover a conspiracy that could determine the fate of a war.” THE WORLD OF SENTRIESWhen it comes to the intricate worldbuilding featured “Sentries,” Noble maintains it’s not necessary to plot out every blade of grass, every star in the sky, or need hands-on experience in knife fighting. Wait. Knife fighting? Noble offered the answer. “I have a friend who is disturbingly good at things like knife and fist fights, so I have to credit her with making mine flow so well. Actually I’m afraid not to…,” she said with a laugh. Senseless violence aside, Noble elaborated upon another kind of violence such as natural disasters and how they factor into “Sentries.” “In order to make this sort of story line plausible I had to reinvent society and the world,” she said. “I did that, in part, by using the Wyoming Supervolcano. There is more to that particular part of the story and ‘Collared Souls’ gives us much more detail on the how and why things went the way they did including the evolution of sentries and how the slave industry was established. Basically, I had a good idea of the geographical location of the story, what it would be like in terms of climate and if there were any changes from how it looks now.” Between just winging it and hoping for the best, and having ideas, Noble explained the difference. “I had the basics of the society and added to that and developed it from there as the story progressed,” she said. “I worked out the generalities, and allowed the world to evolve as I wrote. Societies, people and planets are not static, they change. I try to allow that to happen in the creation of my worlds.” Noble gave her biggest tip for authors new to building extravagant worlds. “Know what you want and be flexible in the worldbuilding,” she said. REDEFINING MASTERS AND SLAVESNobel maintains “Sentries” isn’t the typical Dominant/submissive book, and she went out of her way to make her own twist on Masters and Slaves. She offers the origin of Todd and Nick, and well as the origin of “Sentries” as a whole. “I was reading the posts on a LiveJournal community where people searching for a certain story, or type of story leave messages,” she said. “I read a post where someone was looking for a story featuring an arranged marriage between the two main characters. The very next thread was someone looking for a story about two people who knew from the time they were very young they were always meant to be together.” You could say the rest is history, but Noble had some logistics to work out, she explained. “My use of an Owner/Slave relationship is a bit different than most,” she said. “Todd, the owner, was forced into his role as a child. His slave becomes the center of his world, the true partner and family he’s always yearned for. Nick, the slave is smart, educated and prides himself on being an asset to Todd. The Owner/Slave system was one thing I did put a lot of thought into and had all sorts of details worked out beforehand. While there is a D/s relationship little of that is because one is an Owner and one is a Slave. It’s more of a result of the fact it’s something these guys like.” She elaborated further on the twists and turns she made the standard Dominant/submissive model most readers know. “As the series progresses it becomes more and more apparent that the roles each plays within their relationship have come about because of each man’s personal wants, desires and likes,” she said. “Their sexual relationship, as is most couples’, is independent from their jobs and place in their society. I think they would have the same sort of relationship if there was no Owner/Slave element to the story. There is a lot of variation on how slaves are treated by various people, not everyone has the same opinion and I try to show that.” What does this mean for Todd and Nick? Noble continued. “Nick wears a collar and has Todd’s initials branded into the inside of his wrists,” she said. “To him they do not symbolize captivity, but the partnership he has with Todd. Slaves receive varied and extensive educations in order to be an asset to their eventual owners. I think one aspect that sets them apart from other slave books, is Nick is very accepting and proud of his position. It is Todd who was forced into becoming an owner and struggles through the times he has to act as Nick’s master not his mate.” THE FUTURE FOR NOBLE Noble says with her constantly full schedule, she lives by the productivity apps such as Microsoft OneNote on her smartphone to keep her on task. She lamented she almost never uses her phone to make calls. But what’s on her phone besides her life? Noble dished on her upcoming projects. “I’m currently working on the fifth book of the ‘Sentries’ series, ‘Tethered Pair,’” she said. “Most of the book takes place on an old time riverboat. It’s definitely a guilty pleasure of mine to write that type of story. There are gamblers and demons to name a few things.” But if that wasn’t enough, Noble says she’s also cooking up an urban fantasy series with Dreamspinner Press author Anne Barwell called “Sleepless City.” “It’s an urban fantasy that involves vampires—good and bad—and some werewolves. We hope to start releasing them this year,” she said. “The first book, which Anne is writing is ‘Shades of Sepia.’ Anne is very nice to work with. She’s very open to ideas and we spend a lot of time in chat plotting and planning the series and our books. She and I both like paranormal books, movies and TV and the whole thing sort of blossom out of our mutual interests and tastes. We had many of those ‘I’d like to read a series like this’ sort of conversations. The idea of an urban fantasy with the vampires was hers, and I just sort of horned in on it.” WHERE TO BUY all books available from Dreamspinner Press. This was originally posted on SJD Peterson's Blog for Author A-Z
Naughty or nice? That was the question posed to me by SJD Peterson for her Authors A-Z month, what sort of gift would I rather receive, naughty or nice? I thought the answer might be more interesting if I asked the naughtiest nicest guy I know: Nick Ruger. So, I conned—um, invited Todd and Nick Ruger to join me in pondering that age old question: what sort of present is better, Naughty or Nice? I thought they’d like meeting at a café for coffee. “Have a seat, guys, and thanks for helping with this.” They settled in chairs across from me. Nick leaned over and tapped Todd’s arm, whispering, “She promised coffee.” Nodding, Todd leaned back in his chair, casually dropped his arm over the back of Nick’s chair, fingers resting on Nick’s shoulder. “He’s got a point,” Todd said, looking at me. “I did. I know you guys are as much coffee addicts as I am.” Good thing for me the coffee arrived just then, Todd has one serious stare. “You’re the one who wrote us that way.” Nick took his coffee, inhaling deeply over it. “Do you want to be alone with it?” Todd and I asked together. Nick looked over the rim of his mug, shook his head and sipped his brew, smiling shyly. “Okay, so you’re the one who wanted to do this, and it’s your name that starts with ‘N’, so…it’s ‘N’ day on this blog…” Todd said. “Me?” Nick’s gaze shifted between Todd and I. “Yes, Nick, you.” Todd sipped more coffee and watched Nick. “Um…well Todd’s s given me some gifts. I love every one of them. There was a hunting knife he sent me when I turned sixteen, and then when I first went to live with him he’d gotten me a little carving of a bear. ” He touched the woven leather band around his throat. “My collar of course.” “That wasn’t really what I had in mind.” Todd set his coffee down, leaned forward, laid one arm flat on the table and dropped his forehead onto his arm. “Nicky, I don’t think that’s what she had in mind.” “Oh? No?” “No.” Todd sat straight and shook his head. “Oh.” Nick took another sip of coffee, looking thoughtful. “Oh! OH.” Todd straightened. “Oh?” He motioned go on with one hand and reached for his mug again with the other. “Me?” Nick ducked his head and looked up at Todd from under those adorably shaggy bangs. “Your idea, your name begins with ‘N’, so yeah, you.” Todd leaned back, smiled and winked at me. “Okay, well…in our apartment, Todd made me a whole room. He likes building things from wood, and recently he’s also made a—” “Dude! No spoilers,” Todd said. “That’s a spoiler? I can’t even give a little hint about what happened after we left the Chancellor’s Estate?” “That’s a spoiler and that book won’t be out for another few months yet,” I reminded Nick. Todd added, “No hinting.” “My favorite gift from Todd that I can mention then is rope.” “Rope?” I ask. Spitting coffee out, Todd choked, gagged and coughed. “Rope?” Clearing his throat he dropped his voice an octave. “Rope?” “Rope,” Nick repeated, smiling and nodding. “There are four sections about this long.” He held up both hands about two feet apart. “They’re really soft and very comfortable, you know around my wrists and ankles.” Todd shifted a bit in his chair. “Oh geez.” Ignoring his mate, Nick went on, “There is a longer section that can wrap around my chest, legs, shoulders…you get the idea. It’s…fun and gets the blood pumping.” He leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. “Don’t tell Todd I told you, but he’s really very romantic with all the kissing and licking, sometimes tickling, when I can’t move and just as much when I can.” “I can’t believe you told her, hell, everyone all about the rope.” Nick ducked his head, smiling softly. “You said since my name started with ‘N’ I had to answer. It’s really all your fault, Todd.” He eased closer to Todd and brushed a quick kiss over his cheek. “So, I guess since shy, quiet Nick likes the rope best, and has a bit of kink going on, the answer to our question would be naughty?” I asked them. “You have your answer, we had our coffee. It’s been lovely, thank you,” Todd said as he stood up and held one hand out to Nick, palm up. “C’mon Nicky, we have to…uh…do something important. Right now.” “What?” Nick looked up, his face the picture of innocence until he glanced at me and winked. “Oh. OH. We have to go now, thanks for the coffee.” He took Todd’s hand, standing he whispered to Todd, “Did you bring the rope?” Big thanks to SJD Peterson for kindly including me—well us—in her month of fun. |
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