Dreamspinner Press discussion

Hi everyone! I'm Kate. *waves* I'm the author of the recent Dreamspinner Release Blind Items. I'll be hanging around here for the next few hours to chat about the book or anything else that strikes your fancy. Feel free to ask questions or just say hi! :-) I'll have some excerpts and things up later this afternoon.

Hey, Kate! I'm Kate too!

Is this your first DSP release?

Kate wrote: "Hey, Kate! I'm Kate too!

Is this your first DSP release?"

Hi other Kate! This is my second Dreamspinner release. The first was a novella called Kindling Fire with Snow that came out last fall. (That one's about two guys who get snowed in together. Sexy times ensue.)

Ooh, I think I remember seeing that one! Getting snowed in is VERY romantic.

Here's the blurb for Blind Items:

Columnist Drew Walsh made his career by publicly criticizing conservative, anti-gay politician Richard Granger. So when a rumor surfaces that Granger’s son Jonathan might be gay, Drew finds himself in the middle of a potential scandal. Under the guise of an interview about Jonathan's new job teaching in an inner-city school, Drew's job is to find out if the rumors are true. Drew's best friend Rey is also Jonathan's cousin, and he arranges the meeting between Jonathan and Drew that changes everything.

After just one interview, it's obvious to Drew that the rumors are true, but he carefully neglects to mention that in his article. It's also obvious that he’s falling for Jonathan, and he can't stay away after the article is published. Still, Jonathan is too afraid to step out of the closet, and Drew thinks the smartest thing might be to let him go—until Jonathan shows up drunk one night at his apartment. The slow burn of their attraction doesn’t fade with Jonathan's buzz, but navigating a relationship is never easy—especially in the shadow of right-wing politics.

And here's an excerpt:

I shrugged and stood up. “I should probably get going home.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Where do you live?”

“I’m renting out the ground floor of a house in Boerum Hill.”

“Oh. I’ve always liked Boerum Hill. How do you like it?” I walked outside, wincing at the wall of humidity that hit me as we left the air-conditioned bar. The weather clearly hadn’t gotten the memo about it being fall.

“It’s nice. I’m on Dean Street. It’s a pretty neighborhood.”

And then this bit of stupidity slipped from my lips: “Ah. Well, I’m not too far from there. Do you want to share a cab?”

“Sure, all right.”

I was afraid to say anything important. I proposed walking towards First Avenue because it would be easier to get a cab there. I shoved my hands in my pockets to curb the temptation to touch him, and we walked in companionable silence, speaking only to comment on the temperature or to warn each other away from detritus on the sidewalk. When we got to First Avenue, I held up my hand and we got a cab fairly quickly. I directed the cabbie to go over the Brooklyn Bridge.

We hit traffic near Canal Street. Jonathan looked out the window and groaned. “Look at all the kids out. Clubbing on a Wednesday? Really?”

“Kids? Aren’t you only twenty-five?”

“Twenty-six. Too old for that scene.”

“Aw, come on. You didn’t go through that phase when you were right out of college and finally living on your own, when you just went nuts? I remember being twenty-three and… God, I did a lot of stupid things.”

“Yeah?” He looked like he wanted to ask what those stupid things were. I wasn’t anxious to volunteer. A lot of going home with the wrong men, more risky sex than I was really willing to confess to. But Jonathan just said, “No, I never went through a phase like that.”

“And yet you drink like a fish.”

Jonathan sighed. “I was nervous tonight.”

The parade of stupid continued when I heard myself ask, “Do I make you nervous?” Jonathan’s eyes widened, which was all the answer I needed. Breaking through the Great Wall of Denial would be the challenge here. Whispering, I said, “My editor wanted me to out you in the article, but I couldn’t do it. I want you to know that.”

Jonathan closed his eyes. Then the light changed and the cabbie raced through the intersection at Canal Street and hit a pothole hard, jostling us passengers, who hadn’t bothered with seat belts. I was pushed towards Jonathan, and I put out my hand to prevent myself from falling over his lap. Instead, my hand landed on his thigh, and when the cab was moving smoothly again, I found I was leaning against him, his face just inches from mine, our lips perfectly aligned.

“Uh…,” Jonathan said.

I listened as the cabbie chatted in Arabic to the hands-free device in his ear. “That guy hardly speaks English. He doesn’t know who you are.”

“Doesn’t change anything.”

“It does. You can be someone else, if only for as long as you’re in this cab.”

“Who would I be?”

“Whoever you want, babe.”

Jonathan parted his lips but didn’t move closer. I was close enough that when I opened my mouth to say something else, my lips brushed against his. “Are you attracted to me?” I whispered.

“Drew, please don’t—”

“It’s a simple question.”

“I….”

We hung there, mouths poised to touch, not moving, breathing hard. Then the cab pulled onto the bridge and jostled us together again. I smashed my lips against Jonathan’s.

So how is everyone doing this afternoon? I know a lot of people are in Philly for Authors After Dark. I'm in New York City, where it's overcast but not too hot, which is nice for a change. I'm consoling myself about not being able to go to Philly this weekend by looking forward to GayRomLit in New Orleans in October, which I'm really excited for. Anyone else going to be there?

Hi Kate!
Long time no see. Your novel is on my TBR list...
Sounds good to me!

Hi Zahra! I hope you enjoy!

Probably I didn't tell you, but after we met I did read and enjoy Diplomacy.

I have to step away from the computer, but feel free to leave me some questions and I'll come back and answer later tonight. Also, if anyone has read the book, I'd love to know what you thought.

In the meantime, you can check me out elsewhere on the web, either on my website or @katemcmwriter on Twitter.

I'm glad you did! It was my first novel and it's still very much my baby...

Hi, Kate! I haven't been around much today (and I probably have to go out and mow the lawn soon), but I wanted to stop in and say, 'hi.' The book sounds interesting (and incidentally has a very sexy cover!).

Do you spend much time delving into the world of politics in the book, or just keep it mostly between the two characters? I'm mostly curious about how much research would be involved in a novel on this subject.

Hi Kate. I'm intrigued by your blurb and excerpt. Adding this one to my TBR list.

Jamie wrote: "Hi, Kate! I haven't been around much today (and I probably have to go out and mow the lawn soon), but I wanted to stop in and say, 'hi.' The book sounds interesting (and incidentally has a very s..."

Hi Jamie! I didn't spend a lot of time on the politics, mostly because the book isn't about the politics per se and I didn't want to alienate any readers. (It is really more about the relationship between the two characters.) Although, my grandfather dabbled in local politics in Iowa for many years, so I have some familiarity with how a campaign is run. (I'm personally really fascinated by those sorts of things, although I have zero interest in running for any office myself.)

One funny thing is that the Senator character was much more extreme in earlier drafts, and I wound up toning him down, because my critique partner thought he was too extreme to be believable as a candidate for national office. Now I look at the current crop of Republican nominees and I'm less sure that's true. Ah well. :-)

Anne wrote: "Hi Kate. I'm intrigued by your blurb and excerpt. Adding this one to my TBR list."

Thanks for stopping by, Anne! I hope you enjoy the book!

I did the same thing with a religious fundamentalist character in a story. But ultimately, I think it pays off to make people more sympathetic, even if they're "villains."

Kate, hi, I so much wanted to be here for your chat, but I had to miss it. I just read the excerpt above--wonderful teaser! A great concept too. Congratulations. Kate wrote: "And here's an excerpt:

I shrugged and stood up. “I should probably get going home.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Where do you live?”

“I’m renting out the ground floor of a house in Boerum Hill.”

“Oh. I’ve..."

Lou wrote: "Kate, hi, I so much wanted to be here for your chat, but I had to miss it. I just read the excerpt above--wonderful teaser! A great concept too. Congratulations. Kate wrote: "And here's an excerpt:..."

Hi Lou! Better late than never! Glad you like the excerpt.

Hi Kate sorry i missed the chat.

I have only recently disscovered ure books and read hot pursuit and kindling. Really looking forward to the new one:-D

Sarah wrote: "Hi Kate sorry i missed the chat.

I have only recently disscovered ure books and read hot pursuit and kindling. Really looking forward to the new one:-D"

Hi Sarah! Thanks for stopping by. Glad you're enjoying the books!