Vicktor Alexander's Blog, page 8

Congratulations Kim Tyler! You are the winner of the Create the Story Contest!! As soon as you make your donation to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital and send your confirmation to [email protected] we can begin talking about the story that you want me to write.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!!!!!

A Rose by Any Other Name
by Charlie CochetGenre: M/M historical romance, 1920s
Length: Novel, 270 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner PressBlurbNights in the roaring city remind bright young things that life’s too short to take for granted. Tucked away in Times Square hides the Pantheon: a secret cabaret for wealthy gay men. Pretty young men in elaborate costumes and rouged lips are eager to please, and the champagne flows all night long. It’s a world of frivolity, fantasy, and debauchery. As Eros, the most sought after performer at the Pantheon, Julius uses his beauty and charm on enthusiastic patrons, but growing weary of superficial love, he longs to make a better life for himself.Five years after being declared mentally unfit after surviving the trenches of No Man’s Land, Edward Joseph Clarence Junior pieced his shattered life back together. Now he’s ready to take on the family empire. To celebrate his thirtieth birthday, Edward’s cousin takes him to the most posh nightclub in town, the Pantheon. Falling under the sway of Eros, Edward and Julius find a love they’ve never imagined and the chance for a future they had only dared to dream about. But as Ares, a notorious gangster and Julius’s most important—and dangerous— client watches them, the threat to their love and their lives grows by the day.
Pre-order from Dreamspinner Press in eBook and Paperback Available September 12th, 2014
Excerpt“There you are. I’ve been looking for you two for—” Eros stopped in his tracks and stared at Edward. “You’re here. Again.”Edward stood and took Eros’s hand, giving it a kiss. “I thought maybe after the second or third night you would have believed me.” The young man looked absolutely stunning as always, the gold cloth wrapped low on his slim hips working a now familiar magic.Eros wasted no time in removing his hand from Edward’s grasp. “What reason do I have to believe someone who broke into my dressing room and then lied to me about who he was?”Well, this was certainly news to him. “I said I was an executive for Clarence and Company Department Stores, which I am.”Eros leaned toward him, his voice lowered. “You seemed to have conveniently left out the tiny detail concerning you also being heir to the Clarence and Company multimillion dollar fortune.”“Does it matter?” It wasn’t as though Edward wished to go about advertising his wealth, but he wouldn’t have thought Eros had any reason to be discreet about it.“Does it—?” Eros shook his head and let out a humorless laugh. “I don’t have time for this.”Perhaps it was time for Edward to get to the heart of the matter and the reason why Eros was doing his best to avoid Edward to the point of being brazen with him when every chorus boy, cupid, and Ancient Greek deity seemed to be in a constant state of frenzy each night in the hopes of roping themselves a wealthy patron.“Have I done something to offend you?” Edward took hold of Eros’s hand again, refusing to let it go. After the second tug, Eros let out a sigh and left his hand in Edward’s grip. Eros was absolutely enchanting, even when he was irritated.“No, nothing. I apologize.”Then it struck him. How could he not have seen it? He’d been looking at this all wrong. The thought had Edward smiling from ear to ear. “It’s not me you’re upset with, is it? You’re upset with yourself.”“Don’t be ridiculous,” Eros scoffed. “I happen to be quite fond of myself.”“You were hoping I’d be here.”Eros tugged at his hand again. “Well, aren’t we sure of ourselves. For Pete’s sake, would you let go of my hand?”“You’ve been curious about me since we met. Only now you know the extent of my wealth, you feel threatened. You believe I’ll be no better than the others, wanting nothing more from you than what I pay for, and it’s disappointed you.”Eros narrowed his eyes at him, at which point Edward promptly let go of his hand. For a love God, Eros certainly had one hell of a murderous glare. Edward was pushing his luck, but he went with his gut feeling.“Edward, if I felt threatened by a man’s wealth, I would hardly be in this line of work. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. I feel empowered.”Eros closed the distance between them and ran his hands slowly up Edward’s chest, over his shoulders, and down his back, smiling triumphantly when Edward gave a start at the feel of Eros’s fingers digging into his backside.“You see, you may have wealth, but I have the power to take it away.”Eros gave a low, sultry moan before running his tongue over his bottom lip. Pressing himself against Edward, one hand discreetly moved around the front to grip Edward through his trousers. Edward shut his eyes, willing himself to breathe.“I can feel how hard you’re getting, Edward. Don’t play games with me, or I will make you wish you never set foot in here. Do you think I haven’t come across men like you before?”His hand slowly started to stroke Edward through his trousers.“Jesus,” Edward breathed, his hands going to Eros’s shoulders. He had to put a stop to this madness. It was clear Eros was willing to take this as far as he needed to in order to get his point across, and Edward was foolish enough to stand here and let him.“Honey-sweet words mean little to me, Edward. Do you know how many men have offered to whisk me away from my filthy, devious life? Put me up in some Fifth Avenue penthouse, pay me an allowance, and give me anything I wish for? Do you want to make me your personal whore?”Edward gently pushed Eros away, drawing a look of surprise from him. “Enough. I neither believe so little of you nor of myself. I won’t have my character insulted. If you have the power to take my wealth as you say you do, why didn’t you take it? You saw how eager I was, yet you continually push me away.”“You turned him away?” Pothos asked, gaping at Eros.“Of course not.” Eros lifted his chin defiantly and took a step back. “He stated he would make an arrangement with Aphrodite, and I didn’t object.”“Only after I refused to leave,” Edward reminded him. “You had ample opportunity to take what you wanted from me, yet all you wanted was for me to leave. Why? What are you afraid of?”Eros rolled his eyes. “Being bored to death. Honestly, why aren’t you doing Vaudeville with your act? I choose my clients, Edward, and I didn’t choose you. Your bruised ego will simply have to get over it. Now if you will excuse me.”“Why haven’t you told anyone else who I am? Do you refuse to share me, or are you protecting me?” Edward held back a smile when Eros spun around and marched back to poke him in the chest.“You seem to have developed this ridiculous notion I care about what you do, Edward. I haven’t spoken of it to anyone as it’s not my place to do so. I pride myself on my discretion and integrity. However, if you wish to announce your wealth to the whole damned club, be my guest! And you’re right; you aren’t like the others, because no one is as infuriating as you are!”Eros threw his arms up in frustration and stormed off.“Did I mention you look stunning when you’re angry?” Edward called after him.Eros grabbed a champagne glass off a passing waiter’s tray and hurled it at Edward. “Go fly a kite!”With a laugh, Edward managed to jump out of the way in the nick of time, the glass shattering on the floor where he’d been standing. By the time he looked up, Eros was nowhere in sight.“I think he likes me.” Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THAT YOU ARE HEREby Meredith Allard
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

On the outside, handsome, successful attorney Andrew Whittaker has everything in life. On the inside, he has everything too, only he doesn't know it. He hides the love of his life, Mark Bryce, from his family and everyone else where he lives in Portland, Oregon. Soon the weight of the secret becomes too much for Andrew. After wrestling with himself and his place in the world, he must decide how he’s going to live—with or without Mark.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Andrew’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He put his lunch bag on the counter, nodding at the message from Lisa Bloom, his secretary. He scanned his e-mails and grimaced at the phone. “I have to go.” He left at a sprint through the kitchen door to his silver Mercedes in the attached one-car garage. He didn’t even like the car, but that’s what the senior partners at his firm drove, so that’s what he drove too. Andrew opened the garage door, got into the driver’s seat, slid the key into the ignition, started the car, and jumped at the knock on his window. He shrugged sheepishly, opened the window, and took his lunch bag.

“Sorry,” he said. “I’m a little distracted today.”

“Today?” A sigh. “That car is such a gas guzzler. You need a hybrid. This is Portland. You’re supposed to be green.”

“Kermit the Frog green?”

“Any kind of green you want to be.”

Andrew looked at the person watching him with such open-hearted love in those soft gold-brown eyes.

“Mark?” Andrew said.

“Yes, Andrew.”

“Thank you.”

Mark Bryce leaned his head through the open window and kissed Andrew’s cheek. “Anything for you, beautiful boy.”

When Andrew stopped at the red light on Bancroft Street he felt his phone vibrate. He pulled his phone from his pocket, saw the screen and cringed, peering at the nearby drivers as though they were reporting his every move to some great eye in the sky. The text was from Mark.

Stop looking at your phone!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Meredith Allard is the author of The Loving Husband Trilogy, That You Are Here, Victory Garden, Woman of Stones, and My Brother’s Battle (Copperfield Press). She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from California State University, Northridge. Her short fiction and articles have appeared in journals such as The Paumanok Review, The Maxwell Digest, Wild Mind, Muse Apprentice Guild, Writer’s Weekly, Moondance, CarbLite, and ViewsHound. She has taught writing to students aged ten to sixty, and she has taught creative writing and writing historical fiction seminars at Learning Tree University, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Writers Conference. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Website - http://www.meredithallard.com/
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/copperfield101
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/authormeredithallard
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/That-You-Are-Here-Novel-ebook/dp/B00I17XBBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401234223&sr=8-1&keywords=that+you+are+here





I got a chance to ask Meredith Allard a few questions and these are her responses. What fascinating responses in regards to this new release!

Did you always know you were going to write erotic stories, or was it something you discovered along the way?
That You Are Here isn’t an erotic romance, it’s a sweet romance. All of my stories are romantic rather than romances in the traditional sense. I would call That You Are Here an m/m love story. I do like to write about people falling in love. That part of it is fascinating to me.

Do you have any favorite authors or books that inspire you to write? 
Charles Dickens has been a huge influence on my writing. I read David Copperfield in college and I knew that’s what I wanted to do—write stories that were worlds unto themselves.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I was lucky enough to have had teachers throughout my education who took the time to point out that I was a good writer. It took some time to decide what I wanted to write. I tried journalism and screenwriting, but finally found my home writing fiction.

What gave you the inspiration for your current release? 
I was in Portland, Oregon when the announcement of the Supreme Court decision overturning DOMA was made. The idea for That You Are Here occurred to me shortly afterward in some random daydream. I believe that people who are in love should be able to get married, and suddenly I saw the characters from the story, Andrew Whittaker and Mark Bryce, so strongly, like they were standing in front of me. I had the idea for the story from beginning to end in a matter of days. My main goal wasn’t to write a gay story exactly, but rather to write a love story, a story about learning to feel comfortable in your own skin, which is something anyone can relate to, gay or straight. And Andrew’s story about having a secret to hide is one that a lot of people can also relate to. Andrew has to learn that he’s okay the way he is, again, a lesson that everyone needs to learn in one way or another.

Do you use images for your characters or do you just work off the top of your head? 
Sometimes I use images I find on the Internet or actors to help me get a sense of the character’s looks and movements. Other times the character is completely a figment of my imagination.

If you do use images for your characters, which models/actors are your inspiration? 
While I was writing That You Are Here, I happened to be watching an episode of Girls and I thought Andrew Rannells would make a great Mark. I didn’t have anyone in mind for the character of Andrew Whittaker. He was completely a product of my imagination.

 If you had to describe your main characters in 5 words each, what would they be? 
Andrew—hardworking, intelligent, afraid, secretive, handsome
Mark—loving, kind, open, honest, helpful

How did you research the setting for your latest release? 
When I came up with the idea for the story, I was in Portland and decided to set the story there. I was already in Portland so I had a chance to look around at a few of the locations I wanted to use in the story.

What made you realize that you wanted to write in this genre? 
It wasn’t so much that I decided I wanted to write in the m/m genre, but more that I had the idea for a story that happened to be a love story between two men. I’m most known for historical fiction, but the idea for That You Are Here was so strong and I felt there was a novel in there somewhere. I decided to take a chance and see what kind of book I could make from it.

Which one of your characters is your favorite? Which one do you secretly wish you could kill off? 
I don’t think I could choose between Mark Bryce and Andrew Whittaker from That You Are Here. I love them both, and as the two romantic leads they’re both central to the story. I wouldn’t have minded if Corwin Whittaker, Andrew’s father, happened to be hit by a car during the story. Sadly, it never happened.

What is the greatest and worst thing about being a writer? 
The best part of being a writer is creating stories that I get to share with readers. The worst thing is writing the first draft. I am a big fan of Anne Lamott’s phrase “shitty first drafts” because mine are the shittiest shitty first drafts there are.

 Is there anything readers should know about your characters or your world before they start reading the book? 
I think the story is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a love story between two men—Andrew Whittaker and Mark Bryce—and how Andrew needs to learn to accept himself if he’s going to find happiness in life. And I hope I’ve brought Portland, Oregon to life well enough that readers feel like they’re standing there.

Will there be a sequel to your book? 
That You Are Here was intended as a stand alone, but I’ve had enough requests from readers asking about a sequel that I very well might have to write one.

Do you prefer writing about perfect characters or flawed ones?
I think a perfect character would be extremely boring. People aren’t perfect, so if characters are going to be believable then they shouldn’t be perfect, either. In That You Are Here, Mark seems perfect on the surface, but if you dig a little deeper you can see that he’s a “fixer.” He wants to fix everyone’s problems. While that’s a noble goal, no one can really fix or change anyone else, and that’s a lesson Mark needs to learn. For me, it’s the flaws that make a character both believable and interesting.

How did you start writing? 
I started writing fiction in college. I knew from my sophomore year that I wanted to write novels. I started writing my first historical novel twenty years ago in 1994, and I’ve been at it ever since.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? The title? The sex scenes? Dialogue? Consistency?
Since my novels are sweet romances, the sex takes place off the page so that’s not hard for me. Dialogue comes fairly easy for me because of my training as a screenwriter. Probably the hardest part would be writing the first draft because it’s so far from what I’m trying to write. Usually my second drafts are a lot better.

 How did you come  up with the title for this story? 
The title comes from a section from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass.

If your book was a DVD and we went to the Special Features option, what would we find there? Would your book have a deleted scene? And if so, what would it be?
When I wrote the screenplay for That You Are Here, I did have to leave out a number of scenes and characters from the book. For example, I had to leave out Mrs. Chesney from the screenplay, which I felt bad about because she’s a hoot in the novel. But where you have as many pages as you need to tell a story in a novel, in a screenplay you have between 90-110 pages, so you have to figure out how to condense some scenes and how to let go of scenes that don’t fit into the screenplay format.


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I am very happy to be hosting Kate Paddington on The Purple Fantasy Den today as she promotes her new release: Platonic from Interlude Press.

Kate so graciously answered one of my "curveball" questions about her book for her guest blog post. Enjoy and then go and buy the book. Also, Kate will be awarding a $25 Barnes & Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. A free download of an Interlude Press eBook title or an author/book swag pack (US ONLY) will be awarded to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter at each stop during the tour.

And now, over to Kate!



If your main characters were to meet your favorite author, who would it be and how would that meeting go?


The sheer incompatibility between my favorite author—Neil Gaiman—and one of my main characters—Patrick Hunt—is overwhelming me… So let me begin by saying thank you for such a curve ball of a question!

Neil Gaiman is a fantasy author with the weirdest mind in the world and an amazing, crazy, performance-artist wife, which really just makes me love him more. He recently wrote a fantastic article about his friend Stoya, the famous (ex) porn star, and so even though he’s a fantasy writer who doesn’t really dabble in erotica, it’s safe to say both he and his wife are both wonderfully open-minded and I am sure that they’d take my characters at face value.


Let me begin with the easy ones, Daniel and Mark, my two, in-love, protagonists. Neil would love Mark, for all his idiocy, hand-wringing and self-doubt, he’d look upon him with a soft, sympathetic smile and patiently wait for him to grow up and learn how to be himself. More importantly, how to go after and get what he wants. That’s kind of the point of the story and I think anyone with a strong sort of empathy for people who don’t have a cruel bone in their body (absolutely Mark) will put up with Mark’s less-than-appealing childishness and indecision. Once he’s grown up and knows what he wants, I guess Mark can seem a bit selfish, but he’s non-confrontational and sweet so they’d be fine.

Daniel does have a couple of cruel bones to him–just a couple. He’s selfish. His ambition might conflict with an author as mellow and peaceful as Neil, but again, I suspect, in between the bitchy fights, they’d get on fine and have lots of discussions about what the color blue really is, and how to properly define maudlin and whether beauty and fashion are absolute or even real.

My real worry at this little get together is Patrick. He’s not a lovely person, he’s probably more bad than good. He doesn’t give a damn about anyone else unless he’s formed an attachment, and even then its because he knows he’ll feel it if they feel bad. He’s a proper career man when we first meet him in ‘Platonic’ and he sleeps with one of his students simply because he wants to. He keeps sleeping with him because he wants to. And I mean, most of us just do what we want, but few of us are so scathingly aware of it. Patrick is wholly about self. He’s the kind of person who would start a conversation with a fantastic novelist like Neil, get bored, say so, and leave.

I suspect they’d rather hate each other. Neil would warn Mark off Patrick, actually, he’d be absolutely certain Patrick can’t be good for him, and Mark would have to apologize and try to explain why, actually, Patrick is exactly what he needs. I can’t see them getting on. If Neil went to Daniel and Mark’s eventual, far-off wedding, I’m pretty sure he’d be sat in the opposite corner to Patrick. Though that’s true of about a third of the people at their wedding.

So, there you have it. Neil getting on rather well with Mark, exchanging, bitchy but loving repartee with Daniel, and flat out disliking Patrick. What a tremendously interesting thought experiment!

Thank you so much for asking me and hosting me here for this guest blog!!



Platonic
by Kate Paddington ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:

Mark Savoy and Daniel O’Shea were high school sweethearts who had planned their forevers together. But when Mark goes to college in California rather than following Daniel to New York, he embarks on a decade-long search for independence, sexual confidence and love.

When Mark lands a job in New York and crosses Daniel’s path, they slowly rebuild their fractured friendship through texts and emails. If they finally agree to see each other, will they be able to keep it platonic? Or will the spark of a long-lost love reignite just as Daniel accepts a job overseas?

Platonic is a story of trials, growth, and knowing how to learn lessons from the past to build a future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

"Why did you ask me?” Daniel asks, genuinely curious.
“That’s unfair. I’ve been asking you all night why you came.”
Daniel holds his gaze. “You know that night in the bar, when I ran into you?” Mark tilts his head—he remembers. “You asked me to email you and your eyes were wide and pleading and there was no way I was going to be able to say no to you. I remember wondering if you used the same face on juries, to get your way in court. I guess what I’m saying is that I still don’t know how to say no to you. I still don’t know how anyone does.”
Time stops around them, stutters and then kicks back in when their eyes slip away from each other. Neither one of them knows what this is or what to do with it. Neither of them walked into this dinner tonight thinking “seduction” or “relationship” or “date” or anything like that. They were far too busy not thinking it.
“Did you want to say no?” Mark asks.
“Of course not. I wanted to come. Of course I did, Mark.” And then somehow they’re touching. Without giving it any conscious thought, Daniel has reached across the space between them and caught one of Mark’s hands in his.
The realization that they are touching comes slowly to Mark; his nerves feel sluggish, his brain has trouble processing the simplicity of the touch, just skin on skin, not intimate or unwelcome or leading to anything. But Daniel is touching him—and not briefly, not fleetingly, he’s holding on—and suddenly it all rushes back through Mark and he never, ever wants to let go.
Not ever. This is it. Daniel is it. He always was.
“You broke my heart.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kate Paddington wrote her first work of fan fiction at age 12. Today, at age 26, she has degrees in philosophy and chemistry, and is currently completing a PhD in biophysics. A native of Australia, she has published numerous academic papers as part of her research. Platonic is her first novel.

Links:
http://katepaddington.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Paddington/1488275144718727
https://twitter.com/KatePaddington

Buy link:
http://store.interludepress.com/products/platonic-by-kate-paddington







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Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/06/virtual-book-tour-platonic-by-kate.html

It's Release Day for Michigan! Woohoo!

"So why the fuck did you turn him away?” “Because he was a fucking vampire!” Lucas took a step back and looked at his friend, shaking his head. It was obvious that whoever this doctor was, this Dakota Sevion, fellow, he’d done a number on Nimo’s brain, because his friend was jacked up. Lucas snorted mentally at the word “jacked” since it made him think of Captain Jack Harkness from Torchwood, his favorite show in the world. “Why are you smiling? Oh god. Are you thinking about Torchwood again?” Nimo groaned. “I do not think about the show that much!” Lucas protested. Nimo snorted. “Please. It’s either the show or Captain Jack and Ianto, or leather, or cooking, or your restaurant, or sex, or Gwen from the show, or if  and when they’re going to bring the show back, or how Ianto died, or fanfiction, or comicons, or…” Lucas raised his hands. “Okay, okay. I have a slight…fascination, with the show.” Nimo pointed at Lucas’s leather wristband that was fashioned just like the one John Barrowman had worn on the show. “Slight fascination?” Lucas rolled his eyes. “It’s not an obsession.” Nimo laughed. “Whatever.” “Unca Lucas! Look!” Zay exclaimed running back into the room holding up a drawing of  ten very large men. “Wow! Who is that, dumpling?” Lucas asked as he knelt in front of  his nephew. “I really wish you’d stop calling my son the names of food,” Nimo muttered. Lucas ignored Nimo’s petulant remark and focused on Zay who started pointing at the men on the page. “These are the vampire doctors at the hospital I went to. This is Daddy’s boyfwiend. Doctor Dakota. Then this is Michigan, he’s fo’ you.” “For me?” Lucas was confused. He looked up at a smirking Nimo. “Oh yes. Didn’t I tell you? Apparently my vampire has brothers and one of them smelled like you. Zay says that means that you two are meant for each other. His name is Michigan Sevion. No doubt he’ll be coming for you any time now. You’re welcome..”  Lucas glared at Nimo then stuck out his tongue. “Well, unlike you, I won’t run from any gorgeous, eligible, employed, interested doctor. Not even if he thinks he’s a vampire. I’ll just get him on some really good antipsychotics and live happily ever after.” Nodding at Nimo, Lucas turned his attention back to Zay to be introduced to the rest of the “vampire doctors” even as he tried to ignore the churning in his gut and the memories that tried to resurface in his mind. 

Blurb:

Michigan Sevion is in hell. As a diagnostician at Gelreen Memorial Hospital he has trained to find solutions and answers to all manner of symptoms and problems, but when it comes to his own life he finds himself hopelessly adrift. His sufletul pereche, his mate, Lucas Jaxson, was attacked by Razvan, the monstrous vampire, though Razvan looked like Michigan at the time, a week into their bonding process. Now, Lucas shakes and screams every time Michigan gets close and “the thirst” is getting worse. There’s only one way for Michigan to survive “the thirst” and that is for his bond with Lucas to be severed, completely, and the only way for that to happen is for either him or Lucas to die. Michigan can’t even consider such a thing because he’s already falling in love with his “little chef ” but he may not have a choice, because Razvan’s still on the loose and he’s still out for blood.

http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?...

I am very happy to be hosting Melissa Graves on The Purple Fantasy Den today as she promotes her new release: Bleeding Heart from Interlude Press.

Melissa so graciously answered one of my questions about her book for her guest blog post. Enjoy and then go and buy the book. 

And now, over to Melissa!


If your book was a movie on DVD, what special features would be on the disc? Would there be any deleted scenes? Moments that did not make it into the book but you, as the author, know about? If so, share one.


I am a very visual writer, so if my book was a movie and there were special features on the DVD, there would definitely be “set visits”.

Brian would love to take the audience on a tour of the clinic where he and Erica work. He would take pride in showing off the security and the blood storage room and the locker room where he keeps his things and eats lunch every day. He would show you his apartment if you asked, but he'd be bashful about it—it shows that he's a workaholic, because he's hardly ever there and it's sort of not lived in.

On the opposite side of that coin, Elisa would take you on a tour of the blood club, but only if you allowed Clara to lead you, and Clara would try to keep it all business while Elisa popped in every now and then to crack a dirty joke or make fun of your shoes. You'd see what they wanted you to see, and wonder at all the floors and rooms that they conveniently skipped over the course of your tour. What are these ladies up to?! In the end, you'd leave feeling satisfied. Maybe you would even find yourself getting taken care of by one of their highly trained and professional vampire staff before you left...

In terms of “deleted scenes”, I have to say that I am a very organized writer and don't often write whole scenes that I later get rid of. But one thing that I always go overboard with are the sex scenes—explicit sex scenes are like candy to me, and I'm always wanting to work in more than the story can support. I constantly have to remind myself that the characters don't have to accomplish every sex act that is human—and inhumanly, in this case—possible before the end of the story. So I do often have to go back and delete or rework extra sex scenes. It's a struggle!



Bleeding Heart by Melissa Graves
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
While the public struggles to live side-by-side with vampires, medical student Brian Preston has dedicated himself to their care and study by working in a government-run clinic that monitors and feeds the resident vampire population. He has learned to expect the unexpected in his job, but his life takes a surprise turn late one night when a young, struggling vampire named Kyle stumbles into his clinic and his heart.
 As they draw closer, can Brian come to grips with loving the elusive vampire, and can Kyle find the strength to share the secret that can separate them forever?
Bleeding Heart is the story of love, blood, political intrigue and the secrets that can spell the difference between life and death. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:

"I know," Kyle says apologetically. "I can't help it." He swallows. "I mean, it only happens when I—when—I get excited. Sorry. Just, missed you."
   "You—you can." Heat pounds in Brian's cheeks.   Kyle goes still, panting against his skin. "W-what?"   "You can, if you want," Brian repeats. His body is aching all of the sudden, for something new, for something more, for something that they haven't done yet. He can feel it, simply at the idea—it has been since they started kissing, of course, but now it's fully awake and invested in the proceedings—against the front of his jeans. "You can."   "Have you ever—"   "No," Brian answers. It's impossible to think clearly with Kyle holding him against the door, with Kyle's head bent over his neck like that. He's so hard that his jeans are starting to hurt; the angle at which he's risen against them is uncomfortable, but he can't move. "Please." The anticipation is like ants beneath his skin, crawling and crawling and crawling. "Please."    Kyle kisses the half-numbed skin just inches off of Brian's neck. His fangs are fully distended now and Brian can feel them, smooth and hard as they brush his skin.    The need to feel the pain that he knows he'll feel, to feel opened, to feel his blood run past Kyle's eager lips is sudden and new. Kyle can and will drink from his body; Brian can let him do that, this is a thing that they can do together, and it is as exciting as it is frightening.   "You can," he repeats. He feels dizzy. "I want you to. Want to take care of you, please. Do it." His hands are shaking so hard that he can't even maintain a grip on Kyle's waist, but it doesn't matter; Kyle is supporting him.   "God," Kyle breathes, shaking, his lips damp as they pass over Brian's shoulder again and again. "Ever since you—that night with the wine glass, I—god, I've dreamed of your blood so many times."   "Please," Brian hisses, arousal pounding through his body. "Do it. Do it."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A veteran writer of fan fiction known as MissBeizy to her online readers, Melissa Graves’ stories have thousands of followers. At age 13, she wrote her first work of fan-based fiction, and by age 16, had met her future husband in an online vampire fiction chat room. A fan of science fiction/fantasy, she has a degree in anthropology and a passion for good chocolate, amateur erotica and fan worlds that celebrate diversity. She is mother to two cats.
Follow Melissa Graves and learn more about her work at http://msmelissagraves.com/
Links:
https://twitter.com/msmelissagraves
https://www.goodreads.com/melissagraves

Buy Links:
Interlude Press: http://store.interludepress.com/products/bleeding-heart-1

Melissa will be awarding a $25 Barnes & Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. A free download of an Interlude Press eBook title or an author/book swag pack will be awarded to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter at each stop during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chance of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/06/virtual-book-tour-bleeding-heart-by.html

Sooo glad I have Kris Jacen in my life! Guess what's releasing FRIDAY from Mlr Press?!?! Michigan !!!!! For those of you who have been waiting for the sequel to Dakota , the wait is almost over.........
Blurb:
Michigan Sevion is in hell. As a diagnostician at Gelreen Memorial Hospital he has trained to find solutions and answers to all manner of symptoms and problems, but when it comes to his own life he finds himself hopelessly adrift. His sufletul pereche, his mate, Lucas Jaxson, was attacked by Razvan, the monstrous vampire, though Razvan looked like Michigan at the time, a week into their bonding process. Now, Lucas shakes and screams every time Michigan gets close and “the thirst” is getting worse. There’s only one way for Michigan to survive “the thirst” and that is for his bond with Lucas to be severed, completely, and the only way for that to happen is for either him or Lucas to die. Michigan can’t even consider such a thing because he’s already falling in love with his “little chef ” but he may not have a choice, because Razvan’s still on the loose and he’s still out for blood.
Excerpt:Lucas Jaxson was going to kill his best friend. No. He was not overreacting, he was going to kill Nishon “Nimo” Moore the second he got the other man alone and away from his son, Isaiah. Lucas was pretty sure killing his father in front of him would scar Zay for life and that just wasn’t something that Lucas wanted to do. Even if  he thought Nimo deserved to die. Right then. “I’m sorry. You said, what now?” Lucas asked once more, certain that when Nimo told him the story for the twelfth time, the details would have changed somewhat. “I said, the gorgeous doctor told me he was a vampire, shifted into some kind of monster in front of me, and told me that he wanted to spend his life with me and help me raise Zay all in the same day.” Nimo walked slowly towards the kitchen, his steps measured as if  every breath he took was painful. “Okay, I’m ignoring the whole vampire, shifting part because you were exhausted, and he was either joking, or he wasn’t, either way, they make some lovely medication that he can take and he’ll be right as rain and forget that whole vampire nonsense. Let’s focus on the big issue here,” Lucas marched towards Nimo and poked him in the shoulder. “You had a gorgeous doctor wanting to date you and help you raise your kid and you said no? Are you out of  your effing mind?” Lucas growled, hating that Zay sat in the kitchen watching their entire conversation. That wasn’t as effective as it could have been because he hadn’t been able to curse like he wanted to. Nimo had a strict “no profanity-no porn around the child” policy and while the “no porn” thing wasn’t that hard for Lucas, he worked way too hard as a chef at O8, the restaurant, to even think about hooking up with anyone, much less to do much more than fall asleep with his erection in his hand. The whole not being able to curse thing was downright brutal. “Daddy? Why is Unca Lucas so mad at you?” Zay asked. Nimo turned to smile wanly at his son. “He’s not mad, Zay. He’s frustrated because I don’t want to date Doctor Dakota.” Zay’s eyebrows lowered over his petite nose. “What’s fusstated?” “Frustrated is…” Nimo hesitated, his eyes flicking back and forth and Lucas wanted to smirk as Nimo tried to figure out a way to describe the emotion in a way that Zay would understand. Lucas turned to his “nephew” and leaned close. “It’s mad, sugar plum,” he said with a wink. Zay giggled and finished the plate of linguini and Alfredo sauce Lucas had made for lunch before sliding from the stool and rushing out of the room. Lucas didn’t know where he was going but Zay was special and consistent. He’d come and show them whatever it was in a minute. Turning back to his best friend, Lucas glared again. “So do you want to tell me again why you rejected a hot doctor? You, who haven’t been laid in, how long?” “Sex isn’t everything, Lucas,” Nimo said as he poured himself a glass of milk then put the half empty jug back into the refrigerator. Lucas narrowed his eyes at his friend before shaking his head, knowing he would come back to the absurdity of Nimo drinking milk in the middle of the damn afternoon, later. Especially since he hated milk. “The hell it isn’t.” Lucas sighed. “Look, honey. We aren’texactly the cream of the crop okay? You know that and I know that. We don’t get laid, not by the hot guys, not unless it’s a pity fuck, so when we get chosen, we take it.” Nimo quirked an eyebrow at Lucas and scoffed. “Are you really trying to lump you and I in the same category, Lucas?” he shook his head. “I’m a nerd. I accepted that a long time ago. You. Are not.” He flipped his hand up and down Lucas’s body in a disgusted manner. “I mean, god, I wish I looked like you.” Lucas scowled at Nimo. “Are we really going to have this argument again Nimo? Because you know every time we do you lose.” Nimo squared his shoulders. “Yes, we are.” Lucas lifted his hands and started to tick off Nimo’s attributes. “You’ve got the gorgeous brown skin, me? I’m a white boy from Mississippi. You’ve got that great curly, black afro. Me? I’ve got my long, straight, plain, brown ponytail. You’ve got your gorgeous light brown eyes. Me? I’ve got my plain green ones. You’re six foot three. I’m five foot, fucking ten. You’ve got a gorgeous little boy. I’m an orphan, with no siblings and no kids of  my own. Need I go on?” Nimo sighed. “You really don’t see how gorgeous you are Lucas. You say a white boy from Mississippi, but I say gorgeous pale skin with the slightest tan from riding your moped. You say long, straight, plain, brown ponytail. I say thick, chestnut, brown ponytail that hangs to the middle of your back and that when you get it wet it gets wavy and frames your face. Your green eyes are not plain. They’re expressive. They show all of your feelings and emotions. Like right now I know you don’t believe anything that I’m saying, even though I mean every word that’s coming out of my mouth. You think you’re lacking something even though you’re only five foot ten, but you carry yourself like you’re six foot four. At your height a lot of other men are taller than you, and they see you as being at optimum height. And you know what? No kids means that you don’t have to worry about finding a babysitter whenever you want to go out at night. I don’t have that luxury. You are very blessed and fortunate.” Lucas smiled at Nimo’s words and leaned forward staring intently at his friend. “And so were you to have a man interested in you, even though you have a kid. So why the fuck did you turn him away?” “Because he was a fucking vampire!” Lucas took a step back and looked at his friend, shaking his head. It was obvious that whoever this doctor was, this Dakota Sevion, fellow, he’d done a number on Nimo’s brain, because his friend was jacked up. Lucas snorted mentally at the word “jacked” since it made him think of Captain Jack Harkness from Torchwood, his favorite show in the world. “Why are you smiling? Oh god. Are you thinking about Torchwood again?” Nimo groaned. “I do not think about the show that much!” Lucas protested. Nimo snorted. “Please. It’s either the show or Captain Jack and Ianto, or leather, or cooking, or your restaurant, or sex, or Gwen from the show, or if  and when they’re going to bring the show back, or how Ianto died, or fanfiction, or comicons, or…” Lucas raised his hands. “Okay, okay. I have a slight…fascination, with the show.” Nimo pointed at Lucas’s leather wristband that was fashioned just like the one John Barrowman had worn on the show. “Slight fascination?” Lucas rolled his eyes. “It’s not an obsession.” Nimo laughed. “Whatever.” “Unca Lucas! Look!” Zay exclaimed running back into theroom holding up a drawing of  ten very large men. “Wow! Who is that, dumpling?” Lucas asked as he knelt in front of  his nephew. “I really wish you’d stop calling my son the names of food,” Nimo muttered. Lucas ignored Nimo’s petulant remark and focused on Zaywho started pointing at the men on the page. “These are the vampire doctors at the hospital I went to. This is Daddy’s boyfwiend. Doctor Dakota. Then this is Michigan, he’s fo’ you.” “For me?” Lucas was confused. He looked up at a smirking Nimo. “Oh yes. Didn’t I tell you? Apparently my vampire has brothers and one of them smelled like you. Zay says that means that you two are meant for each other. His name is Michigan Sevion. No doubt he’ll be coming for you any time now. You’re welcome..”  Lucas glared at Nimo then stuck out his tongue. “Well, unlikeyou, I won’t run from any gorgeous, eligible, employed, interested doctor. Not even if he thinks he’s a vampire. I’ll just get him on some really good antipsychotics and live happily ever after.” Nodding at Nimo, Lucas turned his attention back to Zay to be introduced to the rest of the “vampire doctors” even as he tried to ignore the churning in his gut and the memories that tried to resurface in his mind. 

Some of you may remember me talking about RainbowCon earlier this year. I really enjoyed myself. I had a great time meeting new authors, meeting readers, and speaking on a number of panels (as well as doing a reading of Groom of Convenience and a signing). It was very enjoyable for me and I'm looking forward to going back next year.

Today I have the organizers of RainbowCon here with me and they're going to be talking about some of the activities that will be available at RC 2015. And if you want to leave a suggestion or if you have any questions about the con or the activities, leave a comment below:




One of the awesome things about RainbowCon is the diversity of artistic endeavors we showcase. For 2015, we've set aside several hours throughout the schedule to help foster crafty artistry, and for those who sign up, they get to keep what they make! I'd love to take a moment to share with you a bit about each activity we have planned for 2015, and if anyone has any suggestions or questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Cookie Decorating: S.L. Armstrong is an awesome cook, and she's going to bring a bit of that to RainbowCon! Sugar cookies in the shapes of open books, quills, wild cats, and rainbows will be provided to everyone who signs up for the activity. Colored icing, candy bits, sanding sugars, and edible markers will also be available so everyone can spend an hour making works of edible art out of some awesome cookies.

DIY Pencil Jars: Who doesn't need a place to store their pens and pencils? This is another hour long crafting activity headed by S.L. Armstrong (who is a wonderfully talented artist eager to share her skills). Attendees who sign up for this activity are each given their own glass jar to decorate using glass paints, mosaic tiles, grout, and other glass art supplies. Attendees get to leave with their own personal piece of art ready to store the pens and pencils they take home from their welcome bags!

Rainbow Pendants: K. Piet and S.L. Armstrong (of KS Charms) team up to help attendees make their own rainbow glass pendants! These glass pendants are something they make all the time, and it's a way for attendees to walk around with their own bit of handmade Pride. :D Of course, attendees are not confined to just rainbows, but rainbows make everyone smile, right?

Coloring Pages: This is a fun-for-all-ages sort of activity where RainbowCon provides line art, crayons, markers, and colored pencils, and attendees provide all the creativity to color in the pictures. It's just a fun, light hour where attendees can relax, chat, and be creative!

Make Your Own Bookmarks: During this hour, attendees are given blank bookmarks, crayons, colored pencils, markers, glue, glitter, pompoms, stickers, rhinestones, sequins, ribbon, and anything else we can find to make their own, unique bookmarks!

Masquerade Masks: On Saturday, we will have our Call of the Wild Masquerade for attendees, and while some people might avail themselves of our on-site face painter, we know others might just want to wear a mask they can keep after the event. So, we have an hour where attendees who sign up can come and make their own, gorgeous face masks for the masquerade! Everything we have for bookmark decorating will also be made available for decorating the various masks, so everyone will be able to truly customize their masks for the party!

RainbowCon is all about the creativity of LGBTQ art—books, television, movies, theater, music—and our activities were chosen to help foster that creativity in all attendees. It gives everyone unique souvenirs to take home with them, things they made with their hands during this great meeting of minds. We really hope everyone has fun with them, and we can't wait to show off pictures in 2015 of all the great crafty bits everyone did while attending!


RainbowCon is a four day QUILTBAG-centric event for anyone and everyone. If you love QUILTBAG fiction and media, then this is the place for you. You don't have identify as GLBTQ to attend! You just need to love and support the GLBTQ community. In 2015, we've expanded our programming to include not only content for writers and readers, but also anyone who loves QUILTBAG television, movies, comic books, educational, and fandom topics. We're an inclusive conference, and we want everyone to enjoy themselves. Check out our schedule to see all the fun we have in store for you!


Registration is now OPEN! Come celebrate artistic diversity!

Congratulations to the following 5 winners of my BDSM Blog Hop Giveaway of 2 Free eBooks of mine and an Autographed Cover of one of My Books!



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Congratulations Ardent Reader, Jen, Penumbra, Kathryn, and Sara! You should have received an email from me. Make sure you respond.

Thanks for following the hop and thanks for getting involved.


-Vicktor Alexander

WOOHOO! It's Lex Chase Day over here at The Purple Fantasy Den! Why? Because Lex is here to talk about her amazing upcoming release, Chasing Sunrise, from Dreampsinner, which is donating money to an amazing cause, but also because this evening Lex will be on Write On the Edge!

-let the raucous party commence-

So, I'm going to turn things over to Lex and I want you all to go and buy the book, because it's going to be amazing, and also because that money will go to a very worthy charity.

And now, without further ado... Heeeeerrreee's Lex!



I’m Lex Chase, a sci-fi/fantasy author for Dreamspinner Press. And I’ve been asked to say few words about my upcoming release Chasing Sunrise. Set in a lush paranormal world of vampires and shifters, it is in fact a story about surviving domestic violence.

It is an issue I know very well as a domestic violence survivor at the hands of my girlfriend for 10 years. They band Everclear has a song called “Misery Whip” the opening line went “Walking wounded with a belly full of pain and a bad, bad attitude.” This had been my anthem for many years. Because I indeed walked the world with a suspicious eye that anyone could be the next sociopath to take over my life. I’ve looked over my shoulder for years, and still do. Any mention of her, her name, or contact with her friends, immediately puts me on the offensive, when inside I’m crumbling and hunting for the nearest exit.

People still struggle, even in law enforcement, that women can not only be sociopaths, but also the perpetrator.

No one understands domestic violence between gay couples actually exists.

I will always be picking up the pieces, and I admit I may never be whole. It is a long journey, and one I walk alone. While I have therapy, and people that care for me, it is always something that comes up in conversation. It is the conversation that goes “I have this suitcase full of knives, broken glass, grenades, and a few vials of anthrax and Ebola. It is mine. Mine to carry. And if you can stand to let the suitcase sit here next to us, then you’re all right. Do not give me a reason to open this suitcase.”

Countless members of the LGBT community, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and the whole gamut carry their own suitcases. We can fill countless barges with our deadly cargo. But we can never let it just sail away. We must sail away with it.

Chasing Sunrise is my way of slowly unpacking the suitcase. Setting aside the knives, sweeping up the glass, disposing of the grenades, containing the anthrax and Ebola. Bit by bit, and piece by piece, it will all be unpacked, sorted, and not put on a barge to sail away, but incinerated with the weight holding me in place.

Chasing Sunrise, and the Darkmore Saga as a whole, is my way of exploring my scars in a safe space. Wrapped in a pretty packaging of vampires and shifters, it makes the bitter pills easier to swallow. They may be fantastical creatures, but they make real decisions, they face consequences, and they often have to make tragic decisions they must find the strength to live with.

Sevon, the lovely fellow on the cover, copes with his abuse with women’s clothing. He carries himself with the dignity and grace of nobility behind his metaphorical armor and shield of elaborate gowns and jewelry.
His suitcase is full of barbed wire, gunpowder and gasoline, and the weight that he will never escape. His suitcase is hidden under his armoire, where every night he carefully applies his mascara, and dainty lip gloss, so he can cast the image that he is not a prisoner in a nightmare without end. He will always appear prim, dainty, and polite despite the punishments that await him for whatever made up reason.

He never gives up hope that someday that not only will someone be able to tolerate his suitcase sitting next to him, but help him carry it, and help him open it.

Out of the corsets, and under the makeup, perhaps someone will see him for the strong man he is.

There is no one to help me carry my suitcase, nor help me sort through it. One day I may learn that someone will tell me it’s okay, and I can throw the nasty battered suitcase away. Buy a new one, golden and glittering, fill it with the peace and contentment of new adventures, new days, and the days to come. I want to help others be able to go on their own grand adventures and fill up their new suitcases.

This is my call to all of you out there. This is my call tell you how you can get involved. I’m donating 100% of the pre-sale royalties to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s Domestic Violence Service. We need to raise awareness for the issue of LGBT domestic violence. It’s real. And it isn’t going away. Help someone, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, everyone, get the help they need and know they can too walk the world without a belly full of pain and a bad, bad attitude.

The dedication for Chasing Sunrise reads:

For those that suffer in silent darkness and fear they will never see the light, let hope be strength. Chase the sunrise.

Let’s give someone that hope.

Please consider pre-ordering the book here in Paperback or eBook
And click here to directly donate to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.




Genre: Vampires, Werewolves/Shapeshifters, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy
Series: The Darkmore Saga: Book One
Length: Novel
Published: July 25, 2014
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 978-1-62798-776-9
Pre-order: Paperback or eBook

Blurb:
Chasing Sunrise
The Darkmore Saga: Book One

On the Coastal Bend of Texas, a hidden kingdom called Darkmore lies in ruins, and King Sevon Maraté is trapped. Using Sevon as a mouthpiece and a scapegoat, Lord Dominic rules from the shadows. Sevon copes with the unrelenting abuse by dressing in women's finery and casting an image of graceful nobility. Born of royal verkolai blood and as beautiful as he is lethal, Sevon possesses the ability to part the Veil separating his world from hundreds of others. His gift is his chance to escape, but Dominic refuses to relinquish his tool for power. Dominic forges an ambitious plan to invade the prosperous land of Priagust. Only a select few know the mythic kingdom of shifters exists. Sevon is out of options for his people’s survival, and cooperating with Dominic is his only chance.

On their foray into Priagust, Dominic's men kidnap and interrogate a shifter named Jack. Even under torture, Jack's loyalty to his kind never wavers. But as Jack’s knowledge about Darkmore’s king and its history unsettles Sevon, a curious bond begins to form. Despite Sevon’s mistrust, Jack is determined to tame Sevon’s wild heart and perhaps earn his freedom. As invasion looms, Sevon wonders if trusting Jack will lead him into another trap or if he should forget about chasing the sunrise and remain Dominic's compliant prisoner.
100% of the presale royalties of this book will go to Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's Domestic Violence Service.

Chasing Sunrise Excerpt The chill of the metal bucket had long since numbed Sevon’s hands. He took another breath. He had to do this. He had no choice but to go through with it. He bit his lip and mentally repeated Jack was the enemy, Jack was just like any other man. Jack was a man who preyed upon men like him. Jack intended to kill him.

Jack was the enemy.

Jack was the enemy.

Jack was the enemy.

Sevon upended the bucket of ice water over Jack’s sleeping head.

Jack coughed and sputtered, consciousness returned to him in a hard-hitting rush. His shackles rattled and creaked. Sevon waited patiently as Jack fought the unrelenting wave of temperature shock. Jack turned his soggy head upward and looked at him. Sevon fought to keep his expression cold as Jack chuckled in a shuddering laugh. He croaked hoarsely, “Well, if it isn’t the little meadowlark….”

Sevon considered his set of tools on the small wooden table. They were well maintained in comparison to Dominic’s set. Dominic had them made just for Sevon’s boyish hands and gave them the royal touch with studs of diamonds, sapphires, and inlaid with filigree.

It’s just a game, Sevon reminded himself. The object of the game was for him to appear more intimidating than Jack. The intimidation part commonly worked. Sevon had never had to draw blood in exchange for the truth before. Dominic made it look easy. Easy but horrific. This time, it was different. This time, the creature had tried to kill him, and when he searched his mind, Sevon found only a foggy void where the incident would be—and a sense of desire.

The idea sickened him.

Sevon had to make himself the bigger monster. He had to be ready for what came next. He couldn’t make his heart stop racing. Sevon’s fingers glided over his instruments, trying to decide what to try first. The pliers? Maybe not. The razors and salt? Too soon for that. The flask of mercury? Oh, come now, he’s no good to the kingdom dead! Possibly the skewers are the best choice. Yes.

Sevon delicately rolled a metal skewer between his fingertips. “We’re going to have a little chat. The more you cooperate, the more you get into my good graces,” he purred.

Jack laughed against the rawness in his throat. “Your lover’s poor excuse for sadists already had a round on me. I think I made one of them cry…. I’d have to apologize about the nose of the other.”

Sevon regarded his prisoner coolly and gathered three skewers. “Broke his nose, did you?” he asked, as if they were discussing the weather. If he could keep his thoughts disassociated from what was unfolding, Sevon would get through this momentary unpleasantness.

Jack spat out a lock of greasy hair and grinned. He looked up at Sevon, the blackened blood of an aisa caked around his mouth. “More like bit it off,” he said, adding his observation, “You creatures taste like fermented clay. Thanks for the water. I needed a drink.”

Sevon maintained his aloof air, but his stomach lurched at the state of Jack’s appearance. Old bruises had faded and were overlaid with new ones that, despite the size of the marks, didn’t appear terribly severe. Old blood, sweat, and grime painted trailing fingers down his wiry body. They had done away with his clothing as well as his dignity in the dungeon. While bound in chains, he had no place to relive himself save where he stood. They had treated him like a beast. A mongrel that only deserved beatings.

Sevon knew that sensation all too well. He knew this cell intimately. Dominic was taunting him by putting Jack in the very cell where Sevon was sent to be taught obedience. Sevon blinked away his concern, despite the bile rising in his throat. He forced himself not to pay attention to the smell of filth.

Sevon considered where to apply the skewers first. The toenails seemed like a good idea. After all, Dominic had done it to him months ago as part of his training regimen. Dominic had wanted to teach him a better appreciation of the prisoner’s pain. As Sevon observed Jack’s roughly callused foot and thick toenails, his own toes flexed in his boot at the hazy memory of agony. Sevon wasn’t sure about shifter physiology; maybe it would get a reaction, maybe it wouldn’t. Losing a toenail was bound to ruin anyone’s year.

“What happened in Priagust, Jack?” Sevon asked the foot.

Jack feebly tried to jerk his foot out of Sevon’s reach. “By Diana, do we really have to be like this?” Jack whined as Sevon tapped the skewer into position.



Pre-Order Now From: Dreamspinner Press in Paperback or eBook!

About the Author:

Lex Chase once heard Stephen King say in a commercial, “We’re all going to die, I’m just trying to make it a little more interesting.” She knew then she wanted to make the world a little more interesting.

Weaving tales of cinematic, sweeping adventure, epic love—and depending on how she feels that day—Lex sprinkles in high-speed chases, shower scenes, and more explosions than a Hollywood blockbuster. She loves tales of men who kiss as much as they kick ass. She believes if you’re going to going to march into the depths of hell, it better be beside the one you love.

Lex is a pop culture diva and her DVR is constantly backlogged. She wouldn’t last five minutes without technology in the event of the apocalypse and has nightmares about refusing to leave her cats behind. She is incredibly sentimental, to the point that she gets choked up at holiday commercials. But like the lovers driven to extreme measures to get home for the holidays, Lex believes everyone deserves a happy ending.

Lex also has a knack for sarcasm, never takes herself seriously, and has been nicknamed “The Next Alan Moore” by her friends for all the pain and suffering she inflicts on her characters. She is a Damned Yankee hailing from the frozen backwoods of Maine residing in the ’burbs of Northwest Florida where it could be 80F and she’d be a popsicle.

She is grateful and humbled for all the readers. She knows very well she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them and welcomes feedback.

You can find her on those social media things at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LXChase
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lex_Chase
Tumblr: http://lexiconofkittens.tumblr.com

Find her blog at http://lexchase.com or drop her an e-mail at [email protected].




The Novel Approach Gay Rom Lit Countdown with a Chasing Sunrise Reading

7/13 - Chris T. Kat - The Power of Androgyny

7/17 - Michael Rupured - Whispering for Help: Chasing Sunrise Goes Viral

7/19 - Lily Velden - Don't Lose Your Way

7/20 - Jaime Samms - Screw Sparklepires! Meet the Aisa

7/22 - Aidee Ladnier - Were...what? Meet the Shifters!

7/24 - Grace Duncan - Walking the Runway with Sevon

7/26 - Shira Anthony - When Disaster Strikes: Natural Disasters in Fiction

7/25 - Chasing Sunrise Release Day!

7/29 - Dreamspinner Twitter Takeover with Charlie Cochet

7/30 - Live Your Life, Buy The Book - "I loved you before Nazareth." Meet Bianca and Chaney

8/2 - Chat at the Dreamspinner Press Facebook Page

8/8 - Charlie Cochet - The Catharsis of Lovers Shirts

8/13 - Gay List Book Reviews - The Necessity of Brutality

8/16 - Tali Spencer - The Shape of Things to Come: Glass Moon







(And as promised Lex, here are your party hats and streamers, etc. for your big day! LOL.)