Lissa Kasey - Inheritance

I've always believed the most relatable characters are the flawed ones. When I began the book that is now Inheritance it was five years ago and I worked in a call center with another girl who claimed she was a writer. We'd take short breaks and do fast writing, never taking much stock in what we began. I never thought that a lot of my flaws would wind up in that book, and that it'd be my first published novella.

One of those work-break writing sessions, I wrote four pages about a character in a bar who flirted with her boss. Yeah, Sei was female at one point. My co-worker liked the story and tried to add to it, but never got more than a paragraph further. Being stuck myself, I put it aside and there it sat for years.

Last year, everyone was talking about Nano, and though I didn't want to officially join, I did vow to write something. So I pulled out the old piece, cut out the bits my co-worker had wrote, stripped out the characters and re-profiled them, and out came Seiran.

Those who know me pretty well are aware of my anxiety issues, but even then, most don't understand it. So as I wrote the bits about Sei at lot of my issues became his. The idea wasn't really to show people what it's like to be a person with a severe anxiety disorder, that's just too different for everyone. The thought behind the story was really just to lay out the life of a kid who, just like each one of us, has issues. Sure he's good looking, has a hot boyfriend, and a rich mother, none of which I have by the way, but he's conflicted by the past that has shaped him. He's afraid to move into the future of the unknown.

The hardest part of this story for me to write really ended up being the romance angle of it. Since everything is through Seiran's point of view and he's so tainted, it's something he had a hard time recognizing. Sure the relationship was semi pre-established, but in the m/m genre people want the roots as well as seeing the relationship change and grow. In order to make that happen, Seiran had to recognize those feelings. Even now he only begrudgingly acknowledges them.

Once I'd finished the first book I put it aside and began writing a book about Kelly, who is a side character in Inheritance. Seiran, however, loudly kept coming through in that book. He said I'd made him say and feel stuff he wasn't comfortable with and then just cut off his time to work it all out. Which is how Reclamation, the sequel, came into existence.

The third in the series is about Kelly, and was much harder to write because he's just not as flawed as Sei is. Kelly had a good upbringing, sure he had some crap too, but nothing nearly as substantial as Sei. No matter our level of flaws, however, we all deserve to find that special someone who can put up with our crap. And as long as the boys keep talking to me I'm going to keep torturing them a little bit at a time. I guess being a sadistic witch is just another of my flaws.

Blurb:

As the only male studying magic in a female-dominant society, Seiran Rou’s life is already on a precarious perch. Then he finds a dead co-worker on his doorstep, and Sei realizes someone is trying to set him up for the fall. It could be anyone—including his own mother, a powerful witch and leader of the Dominion, the ruling body of elemental magic.

Sei’s only saving graces are his on-again, off-again vampire boyfriend, Gabe, and the mysterious Jamie, who wants to help him for reasons Sei doesn’t understand. They may be all that stand between Sei and the Dominion’s demands to control his magic. One man’s devotion could be the key to save Sei’s life and pull him back from the brink of losing his humanity to the magic he possesses.

Snippet from Inheritance:

I took a sip of the beer, but it tasted like minerals. All things did at that time of the month. Damn. I spit it out and poured the rest down the sink. A vent opening to the upper left side of the bar gave me an idea. The cover came off with patience and slow movement to keep it from clanking. Yanking off my clothes in a hurry, I piled the power of the absent moon into my veins and let the change come. Less

than a minute later I shook out my fur and leapt from the floor to the counter to the open vent. Thankfully, since my change was all magic, my size was that of a normal lynx, and not some man-sized mockery of one. Otherwise I would not have fit in the tiny opening and ductwork.

“I don't see the connection. Roman's been here for years.” Jamie was saying as I arrived at the other side.

“It's obvious. The papers have been merciless.” Gabe was pacing, something I'd only seen him do once or twice before. “Any other reason Frank might be dead?” He glared pointedly at Jamie.

“You think I did it?”

Gabe's raised brow asked the question. “Frank was hitting on Sei last night. I know how much anyone flirting with him irritates you.”

“I don't know what Frank's deal was last night, but he wouldn't have dared. Not with your claim. Besides, if it'd been me, you'd have never found the body. I certainly wouldn't have left it on Seiran's doorstep. It sounds more like something his mother would do.”

The thought made me shudder, which resounded like a loud thump in the vent. Turning to dash away, I prayed I'd get enough of a chance to break free of the metal cave and scurry away to avoid Gabe's wrath. However, he waited for me on the other side. Damn vampire speed.

He bravely held out his arms. “Come here, Sei.”

I backed further into the vent, cursing the dust bunnies that clung to my fur. I'd so need another shower. Jamie's smell came from the other side of the tunnel, like he was waiting for me to try going that way.

“Come here.” This time the tone was undeniable. And it made me angry as my body moved without my consent. Leaping into his arms, I turned out my claws at that last moment, digging in deep. He grunted in reply.

Jamie stepped out of the office. “Got him?”

Had me, he did. Gabe's grip hurt probably as much as my claws in his arms and shoulders did. “Stop fighting me, and I'll let you change back.” Gabe dropped me to the floor. “Don't spy on me.”

I took a heavy swipe at Jamie, who held out his hands like he was innocent, before disappearing behind the bar to change back. The fur receded like water into my skin, smooth, easy, and mostly painless because of the new moon. I pulled on the borrowed clothes before rising from my hiding place. The shirt and sweats felt rough against my skin. The boots would not be going back on tonight. I raised a fist to punch Gabe for his trouble.

Bio:

Lissa Kasey lives in St. Paul, MN, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, and collects Asian Ball Joint Dolls who look like her characters. She has three cats who enjoy waking her up an hour before her alarm every morning and sitting on her lap to help her write. She can often be found at Anime Conventions masquerading as random characters when she's not writing about boy romance.

Links:

www.lissakasey.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4904483.Lissa_Kasey

K.C. Burn and Cop Out!

Thanks for letting me ramble a bit on how Cop Out came to be.  As the title suggests, it’s about a cop (Kurt) and his coming out, prompted by an unexpected friendship with a gay man (Davy) as they both work through their grief after Ben, Kurt’s partner on the force and Davy’s life partner, dies. 

This book was a departure for me in many ways.  First off, it’s a contemporary.  Not only is this the first contemporary I’ve sold, it’s also the first one I’ve written.  Although I enjoy contemporaries, I’m generally happier if there’s something else going on as well – mystery, paranormal, aliens – and that’s true of my writing as well.

Secondly, it’s rather angsty and emotional.  Although I write relationship-focused books with appealing characters – or so I hope – high emotions are not characteristic of my writing (I don’t think).

Also, no part of this novel was inspired by a dream.  Not that all of mine are, but there a number of scenes in my books that have been. 

And finally, I usually like to write about guys who, whether they’d closeted or not, have no doubts that they’re gay.   

So… where did this idea come from?  Unlike all my other stories, I have NO CLUE.  I was procrastinating on another project (one with girlie bits) and the scene at the funeral smacked me in the face.  I took a break from the project I was working on to write that scene, although Kurt and Davy hadn’t told me their names yet.  That scene set the whole tone of the book because not only does Kurt meet Davy for the first time, but this is where Kurt realizes Ben was gay.  This was such a radical departure from my other stories that I sat on that scene for months before I wrote the book, even though Kurt begged me for his happy ending almost daily.  

But he was telling me to write an angsty, gay for you/out for you contemporary that I’d have to make up entirely without any dreamtime inspiration.  Uh-huh.  No problem.  I never thought I’d enjoy putting my characters through that self-doubt, the potential recriminations, the agonizing.  But I loved putting Kurt through his paces, ripping him out of the closet he hadn’t even realized he was in.

The other reason for my delay in writing the book was that I’d originally intended to give both Davy’s and Kurt’s perspectives, but it just didn’t work.  Once I realized that the story was Kurt’s (however much I adore Davy) it all went much smoother.  I love all my stories, but this one has a special place in my heart, for sure.  Writing this story made me realize maybe contemporaries weren’t so scary after all, so I wrote another one, which will be coming out in spring. 

Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2628

KC’s website: www.kcburn.com

Blurb:

Detective Kurt O’Donnell is used to digging up other people’s secrets, but when he discovers his slain partner was married to another man, it shakes him. Determined to do the right thing, Kurt offers the mourning Davy his assistance. Helping Davy through his grief helps Kurt deal with the guilt that his partner didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth, and somewhere along the way Davy stops being an obligation and becomes a friend, the closest friend Kurt has ever had.

His growing attraction to Davy complicates matters, leaving Kurt struggling to reevaluate his sexuality. Then a sensual encounter neither man is ready for confuses them further. To be with Davy, Kurt must face the prospect of coming out, but his job and his relationship with his Catholic family are on the line. Can he risk destroying his life for the uncertain possibility of a relationship with a newly widowed man?

Excerpt:

 

“Hi, I’m Kurt O’Donnell. Ben’s partner, remember?” Davy inhaled sharply, a near-gasp, like he’d done at the funeral. Was it hearing Ben’s name that distressed him? “May I come in? My leg is starting to hurt.” It wasn’t, but it was a good excuse. He sensed Davy wanted to slam the door in his face, but he was determined to prevent that. There were questions that he needed answered, but more important was his sense of obligation as Ben’s partner.

“Oh, sure.” Politeness overrode Davy’s first inclination, and Kurt didn’t give him a chance to change his mind as he pushed his way into the house.

“Where’s the kitchen?”

“Why?” Davy pointed to the back of the house—mechanically, instead of a true willingness to have Kurt in his kitchen.

“Because I brought food.”

“Why?”

Kurt shook his head. As he walked to the back of the house, he couldn’t see anything but generic décor applied with military precision. Nothing personal, vibrant, or alive, except for the jumble of shoes and newspapers by the front door.

The kitchen was the whitest room he’d seen in his life, and that included the hospital room he’d recently spent three days in. The only speck of non-white came from the black burners on the stove and the chrome taps at the sink. After heaving the Crock-Pot onto the counter, he grimaced slightly. It was his mother’s old one, with a dark green ceramic liner and a garish line drawing of a red rooster on the front. And it looked almost obscene sitting on the white counter in the whiteout conditions of the kitchen. Was this what Davy liked? This… nothingness? Even Kurt’s shitty apartment had a blue sofa and colored dishtowels, for God’s sake.

He shrugged. He was here, he’d have to make the best of it. Hope Davy at least appreciated the sentiment. By rights, he should have been here much sooner, but his lack of mobility affected his decision as much as the fact that Davy didn’t know him any better than Kurt knew Davy.

After he’d fiddled with the pot and got everything set up, he turned around. Davy sat slumped at the kitchen table, chin propped up by a hand, eyelids at half-mast. Bags under his eyes and hollows in his cheeks spoke loudly of how difficult the past couple of weeks had been. Even more startling was how Davy, with his pale-blue pajamas and his dark brown hair, somehow managed to fade away to nothing in this painter’s blank canvas of a room. Kurt expected him to stand out like a rose among the weeds, but the whiteness camouflaged him.

“Are you okay?”

Davy nodded with his eyes, like he was too tired to move his whole head. “Sandra’s not here, you know.”

What? “Um. I know?” A light flickered on in his mind. The conclusion he’d drawn at the funeral, that Sandra was Ben’s wife or girlfriend, had been an intentional misdirection on Davy’s part. Maybe Ben and Davy lied to everyone about their relationship, not just Kurt.

“Why are you here, then?” Davy asked.

“I’m sorry, I should have been here earlier.”

A puzzled look crossed Davy’s face, and he peered at the clock on the wall. “Today? I’m sorry, did we have an appointment?”

Kurt’s cheeks heated. He’d barged in here, without an invitation, and Davy didn’t seem to know what the hell to make of him or the situation. Maybe if the poor guy had slept since Ben’s death—which didn’t look likely—his coping skills would be better.

“I’m here because you’re here, not Sandra.”

The words made Davy’s eyes open fully, and he sat straight in his chair. “What do you mean?” His chest fluttered rapidly like a frightened bird… or a man about to faint from hyperventilation.

Kurt scooted to his knees in front of Davy, pain screaming through his injured joint, which he ignored. “Breathe, man, breathe. Slowly. In. Out. There’s no reason to be afraid of me, I promise.”

He lightly gripped Davy’s knees as he spoke, getting Davy to focus on him, on breathing.

A few minutes later, Davy was no longer in danger of fainting, and Kurt levered himself into another chair. He’d just reacted, but those reactions would have his physiotherapist yelling at him for sure. He might even need to dig out the prescription painkillers he still had half a bottle of, when he got back to his mom’s. But he had more pressing concerns.

“Okay, now?”

Davy nodded, a full nod this time, his eyes full of questions.

“I know this is where Ben lived. I know… or at least, I’ve deduced you lived here with Ben.”

A slightly fearful look returned, and Davy fidgeted with fingers that looked bloodless and cold, he but didn’t reply.

Another light went on his brain. Ben’s partner. He’d introduced himself as Ben’s partner. The term had a much different meaning for Davy. “You were Ben’s partner. Life partner, right?” He didn’t see a ring on Davy’s finger, so he didn’t think they were married.

Pale pink lips compressed, as though Davy were afraid of what would fall out. Kurt had seen the action before, in guilty people who weren’t hardened criminals. The urge to tell the truth warred with fear of the consequences.

Davy’s lips parted, but instead of the confirmation he expected, Davy repeated his previous question. “Why are you here?”

“Because I wanted to apologize. Because I wanted to offer my help, with anything.”

“I don’t understand. Apologize for what?”

Kurt’s eyes began burning again. More memories had returned from that day, but not all. “I should have done more. Maybe if I had, Ben would still be alive.”

Davy cleared his throat. “Inspector Nadar explained it to me. I don’t think you’re to blame. You didn’t need to bring me food.”

Kurt raised a brow as he inspected Davy from forehead to toe. He’d only seen Davy for a few moments at the funeral, but he’d lost ten pounds or more in the intervening days and was as pale as the paint on the wall. His mom would have a fit if he left Davy in this condition. He wasn’t about to let Ben’s partner kill himself through neglect.

“I wasn’t kidding about helping you out. Ben was my friend.” Even if he hadn’t felt the same about Kurt. “Wife, life partner, kids… I would offer help to anyone Ben left behind. Now, it’ll be thirty minutes or so before the stew’s heated through. Is there anything you need me to do?”

Davy’s breath hitched, once. Again. Then he startled them both by bursting into tears.

© 2011 KC Burn

Rick Reed and Caregiver

Today, I have the great pleasure to introduce an awesome author and an all around nice guy, Rick Reed!

He's talking about his latest release.  Please welcome, Rick Reed!

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

Picture it: Tampa Bay, Florida, 1991. A young man flees a troubled life in Chicago to begin anew on the Gulf Coast of Florida. White sand beaches and azure waters beckon. Shortly after landing in Tampa Bay, the young man, in a gesture of solidarity with his gay brethren who are dying by the thousands, volunteers to become an AIDS buddy, focusing his attention on one victim of the virus…

Actually, if you’ve read the blurb of my new novel, CAREGIVER, you might think that the above is an alternate synopsis I wrote for the book. But the truth is it’s about me. Like my main character in CAREGIVER, Dan, I too fled Chicago for a new life in Tampa, FL and I too joined a program that supplied AIDS buddies to those suffering from the virus. In 1991, the afflicted had a very bleak outlook. But sometimes, we meet a person who can overcome that bleakness with biting wit, humor, grace, and style. My buddy was just such a man—he left a mark on me that has stayed with me until this very day and will always be one of the most special people I have ever met.

My book is called CAREGIVER, but by the end, the reader will wonder who really is the caregiver.

It’s taken me twenty years to write about Jim, my AIDS buddy from 1991 (who becomes “Adam” in the novel), my funny valentine who ended up dying in the Florida State Prison—but I think the results are ultimately worth it.

In CAREGIVER’s first review by fellow author (and icon) Victor J. Banis, he says:

"Reed has a fine command of words that sometimes approaches the magical, and I think few readers will come away from reading this emotionally untouched... I could not stop reading until I had finished, and I don’t know how you can pay a writer any better compliment than that...I began by explaining my aversion to AIDS novels—but I’m not so great a fool that I didn’t know from the first page or so that this is a terrific work, insightful and bold, by a very talented writer..."

Read the whole review on Reviews by Jessewave: http://tinyurl.com/3lan598

SYNOPSIS

It’s 1991, and Dan Calzolaio has just moved to Florida with his lover, Mark, having fled Chicago and Mark’s addictions to begin a new life on the Gulf Coast. Volunteering for the Tampa AIDS Alliance is just one part of that new beginning, and that’s how Dan meets his new buddy, Adam.

Adam Schmidt is not at all what Dan expected. The guy is an original—witty, wry, and sarcastic with a fondness for a smart black dress, Barbra Streisand, and a good mai tai. Adam doesn’t let his imminent death get him down, even through a downward spiral that sees him thrown in jail.

Each step of Adam’s journey teaches Dan new lessons about strength and resilience, but it’s Adam’s lover, Sullivan, to whom Dan feels an almost irresistible pull. Dan knows the attraction isn’t right, even after he dumps his cheating, drug-abusing boyfriend. But then Adam passes away, and it leaves Sullivan and Dan both alone to see if they can turn their love for Adam into something whole and real for each other.

BUY from Dreamspinner Press (the first 20 paperback sales will receive an autographed copy)
In ebook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2561
In paperback:http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2562

Amazon Kindle version: http://tinyurl.com/3flyqzr

Andrew Gray - Artisitc Appleal

Artistic Appeal is the follow-up to Legal Artistry, and the story behind this story is definitely in the characters.  The main plot elements come from the court case introduced in Legal Artistry.  In Legal Artistry, the initial court case was won, but in Artistic Appeal, the case continues through the appeals and eventually on to the Supreme Court. 

Nicolai is an art restorer and he also happens to be deaf.  One of my neighbors has an adult daughter who is deaf, and one evening when I was visiting, what inspired me was the amount of our conversation Darleen was able to understand. Through a combination of reading lips and body language she was able to understand the bulk of the conversation.  The rest of our visit was signed by her mother, and we had a great time.  With Nicolai, I wanted to bring some of Darleen’s spirit, vitality, and ability to read people to the character, and I’d like to think I did. 

Brian is inspired by a close friend who has been with his partner for almost twenty years, but before they met, Chuck was married and had two sons.  They are the light of both their lives, as are their grandchildren, and I wanted to bring the way Don adores his children to Brian and his daughter Zoe, who I modeled on my niece of about the same age.

I had a great deal of fun with this story because all of my characters spoke to me, even the villainous ones, and I sincerely hope they speak to you as well.

Blurb:

Brian Watson knows close friends Gerald Young and Dieter Krumpf have an ulterior motive when they invite him to their Christmas party. Brian has taken over the case to secure the return of the famous painting called The Woman in Blue to Dieter, but they don’t want Brian to be all work and no play. They intend to set him up with a friend, but he’s not who catches Brian's eye. Instead, it's Nicolai, the deaf art restorer caring for the works already returned to Dieter.

But pursuing Nicolai won't be easy. A year ago Nicolai had to fight to regain his independence after a bad break-up, and he's reluctant to give up his freedom a second time. Plus, Brian has competition in Justin, Nicolai's ex, who wants him back badly.

Nicolai's reluctance isn't the only roadblock. Brian was married to a woman for almost ten years. Now he has to confess to his mother, his ex-wife, and his young daughter that he loves a man—all while conducting a potentially groundbreaking court case and trying to convince Nicolai that love isn't about co-dependence, it's about support.

Excerpt:

Over the past year, his main companion outside of work had been Zoe, and Brian hadn’t realized how much he missed adult company and conversation until he was deep in a conversation with Harold about his upcoming deep-sea fishing trip to Florida. God, it had been a long time since he’d simply talked to another adult.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Dieter said, and Brian and Harold paused their conversation. “I’m taking Zoe up to the television room so she can watch her video.”

“Thank you,” Brian said, grateful to his friend. Dieter left, and Brian and Harold continued their conversation. After a while, Harold excused himself and got up. Brian, deciding he wanted another glass of wine, walked through the house to the kitchen. The room was full of people, and Brian poured a glass of wine and was about to leave when he lightly bumped into another man. Pausing to excuse himself, Brian stopped and the tall man turned around. Bright blue eyes stared into Brian’s, and for one of the few times in his life, Brian stared open-mouthed, completely at a loss for words. This man was stunning, rather than beautiful, with piercing eyes that nearly made him flinch and deep black hair that shone in the light against his olive-toned skin. “I’m sorry,” Brian said, for bumping him, and the man smiled slightly, nodding his head before turning away.

People shifted in the kitchen as glasses were filled and new faces moved to the bar for refills. Brian made his way back into the living room and nearly bumped into Gerald, thankfully not spilling any of his wine. “Who’s the man over there with the dark hair?” Brian indicated the man he’d seen in the kitchen.

Gerald smiled at him. “That’s Nicolai Romanov. He’s an art restorer, and he’s been helping Dieter with the paintings. He’s a really sweet man,” Gerald said, lowering his voice, “and very handsome. He’s also available, or so I understand.”

“What about the man with him?” Brian asked, his eyes following Nicolai and the other man around the room. They looked rather cozy to him.

“That’s Peter, and they’re not a couple. He’s a friend and sort of acts as Nicolai’s interpreter because he’s deaf. Besides, Peter’s as straight as an arrow, and if there were a lot of women here, Nicolai wouldn’t be getting as much interpreting time. Peter’s a bit of a ladies’ man. Come on, I’ll introduce you. Nicolai reads lips, so speak clearly and look at him, and you’ll be fine.” Before Brian could stop him, Gerald was leading him into the hallway where Nicolai was looking closely at one of the paintings. Gerald lightly touched him on the shoulder and stepped back.

“Nicolai,” Gerald said once he’d turned around, “this is Brian.” He noticed that Gerald made eye contact and spoke clearly, but not loudly, to Nicolai, who held out his hand.

“Very pleased to meet you,” Nicolai said slowly, his consonants very smooth, and it took some concentration, but Brian was able to understand him. Brian shook his hand and wondered what to say. Thankfully Gerald started things off.

“I work with Brian. He and I try to get art works returned to its proper owners. Brian is handling The Woman in Blue case for Dieter and me,” Gerald explained, and Brian saw Nicolai’s eyes light up.

“That must be exciting,” Nicolai said. “Dieter has told me about his great-grandmother. It is a very exciting story.” Brian saw Nicolai’s fingers and hands moving, presumably out of habit.

“Daddy.” Zoe barreled into him laughing before turning to her Uncle Dieter. “I turned off the player.”

“Zoe,” Brian said, still looking at Nicolai, “this is Mr. Romanov.”

“Hello.” She suddenly seemed shy, and Brian hugged her to his side.

“Nicolai, this is my daughter Zoe.” Brian made sure to face Nicolai so he could read his lips.

“Hello, Zoe,” Nicolai said as he signed, and Brian heard Zoe inhale in surprise as she watched Nicolai’s hands. “Zoe,” Nicolai said rather clearly as he slowly signed her name. Zoe brought up her hands and began to move them, mimicking the movements. Nicolai gently corrected her fingers, and soon Zoe could sign her name. “Nic,” Nicolai said and then performed the signs for his name. Brian found himself watching every movement of Nic’s graceful hands, trying to make the signs himself along with his daughter.

“Like this,” Nicolai told him, and Brian nearly jumped when the handsome man touched his fingers, lightly caressing his skin as he coached him through the signs. Brian repeated the movements for the three letters, and Nicolai smiled his encouragement. Brian wanted to ask Nicolai to teach him more signs, if only to get the other man to touch his hands again.

Bio:

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation. Andrew's hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Links:

web site:  www.andrewgreybooks.com

email:  andrewgrey@comcast.net

Purchase Link:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2581

Shelter Somerset - Between Two Promises

I had a few half-written novels tucked inside my desk drawer when one night the idea for my Amish Series struck me. I literally jumped out of bed and began writing a synopsis. Sixteen pages evolved into more than two-hundred, and six months later I had my first completed manuscript, Between Two Worlds. The sequel, Between Two Promises, followed five months later.

I cannot explain what compelled me to finish the Amish Series while I had four unfinished novels still begging for my attention. I suppose I felt a deeper connection with the characters in my Amish Series. I have always been fascinated with the subsistent lifestyle of the Amish and how, in most cases, they eschew government aid. They are virtually a stateless people.

For several years I had been searching for books about the subject of the Amish and homosexuality. Other than the typical banal nonsense, I found nothing. That’s when I decided if I want to read something about homosexuality inside the Amish community I’d have to write the book myself.

Between Two Promises continues with the story of Aiden and Daniel, two lovers lost between two worlds. Neither belong anywhere. Aiden is agnostic and gay, yet fails to follow the typical gay tenets. He feels a stronger bridge with the Amish community than with his progressive Chicago neighborhood. Daniel, Amish and gay, similarly struggles with his identity inside his austere community. I draw a parallel between the Amish and the gay communities. While they may seem as opposite as two cultures can be, both have their own strict set of “ordnungs” one must obey to fit in. I enjoyed exploring the theme of “man versus society.” Post-modern society has, in many ways, gobbled up the individual. I struggled alongside my characters to find a place where they can be individuals while fighting off the thorns of conformity.

Blurb:

Daniel Schrock and Aiden Cermak have forged a life in the rural Montana foothills, but a shadow still lingers, made stronger when a letter arrives from Daniel's brother Mark inviting him to his Christmas wedding. Daniel fears returning home might force what he wants to avoid: telling his family about Aiden and facing the dreaded Amish shunning.

Despite the uncertainties, Daniel and Aiden head to Illinois, where frustration will not only endanger Daniel's relationship with his family and the church community, but his bond with his boyfriend, who leaves Daniel with a choice: him or the Amish. Before Daniel can stop Aiden, he's gone... and threats from the past resurface, crystallizing Daniel's fears about a murderer still at large.

 As he desperately searches for Aiden and the identity of the suspected killer, Daniel will have to decide if love is important enough to risk losing everything he knows. Will Daniel choose to keep his commitment to the Amish church or will he stand by the promise he made to Aiden that first night they made love?

Excerpt:

The Harvest Sunrise Inn Bed and Breakfast was a converted Victorian farmhouse on the southern outskirts of Henry. A sense of repression settled over Aiden as he and Daniel stepped inside the lobby. Decorated with rich, ornate furnishings, the inn contrasted sharply with the surrounding simple farmland.

But the unease pestering him came more from Daniel than the old house itself. While Daniel checked in at the front desk, Aiden worried Daniel was embarrassed about their sharing a room together. The innkeeper seemed unconcerned. With a kindly smile on his chubby face, he handed them a key and showed them the way to their room on the first floor.

The first things Aiden noticed were the two separate twin beds.

“Was this the only room they had when you made reservations?” Aiden asked once the innkeeper had left.

Daniel ignored his question. He tossed his suitcase onto one of the beds and began stuffing his clothes into the drawers of a cherry dresser.

Sachets of clover- and vanilla-scented potpourri lay on the pillows. Bowtie quilts were tri-folded at the bottom of each of the beds. Aiden thought it was all very quaint; perhaps too quaint for him and Daniel. Aiden understood how awkward staying at the Schrocks’ would’ve been, but he wondered if Daniel had purposely reserved a room with two beds instead of one.

“Maybe we can push the beds together,” Aiden said, letting his laptop case slide off his arm onto the other bed. He set his black duffel bag with the wide turquoise stripe that seemed to always annoy Daniel on the twill carpet.

“We should leave the beds as they are,” Daniel said after a pause.

“I’m sure the innkeepers won’t mind,” Aiden said. “We can move them apart before we check out next week.”

Daniel completed unpacking. “That won’t be a good idea.”

Aiden watched Daniel yank off his boots and nudge them against the canary yellow wall by the door. When he failed to say anything further, Aiden said, “Daniel, I want you to promise me you won’t brush me aside during our stay here.”

Without looking at him, Daniel said, “What do you mean, brush you aside? If you’re expecting me, in front of everyone, to take you in my arms and—”

“No, I don’t expect that, Daniel. But, please, don’t ignore me. Don’t treat me like I don’t exist.”

“Of course I wouldn’t do that.”

Aiden felt achy and tired. The long three-day journey from Montana had sapped his energy. They had driven near straight through, without stopping for sightseeing. Each morning by six, they were on the road. Snow through much of Minnesota and Iowa had made traveling slow and stressful. Supper with the Schrocks had gone smoothly enough. There was so much commotion in the house with preparations for Mark’s wedding, the baby, and visiting relatives that little focus seemed to be on him. He had been both relieved and disillusioned. Had he expected more?

When Daniel had presented the family with the furniture Daniel had crafted without saying they were from the both of them, including the stuffed animals Aiden had filled Gretchen’s toy chest with, Aiden had flinched. Already he felt pushed into the background, like the bare-limbed elms and hickories of the harsh winter landscape.

One concession was Samuel. He’d seemed sincerely repentant for having tossed Aiden out of Henry last year. Aiden was glad they’d put past unpleasantness aside, at least tacitly. Maybe the Amish do have a sense of forgiveness others lacked, Aiden considered. He tried to gather contentment from that thought while he unpacked in silence.

He wanted to mention his musings to Daniel but decided not to. Daniel’s brusque expression suggested he carried his own worrisome notions on his shoulders. Instead, Aiden edged behind Daniel while he hung his Sunday Amish suit in a closet.

Daniel’s muscles twitched under Aiden’s kneading fingers. Daniel relaxed and roved around his neck. Aiden hoped massaging him would assuage any hurt between them. “How’s that?”

“Feels good,” Daniel said.

Aiden walked his fingers down the side of Daniel’s neck and reached his hand over Daniel’s shirt, the one Aiden had bought for his birthday in August, and began unfastening the buttons. Daniel’s firm pectoral muscles twitched. He caressed his rippling abdominal muscles, naturally built from years of manual labor. He stood up on his toes and swiped his tongue across Daniel’s ear.

“Best be careful, people might hear,” Daniel said. “I got relatives staying here.”

“No one will hear behind these old sturdy walls.”

“Sill not proper, not here.”

Aiden sighed. “You know, Daniel, I don’t like hiding things.”

“Hiding?” Daniel nudged Aiden’s hand from his chest, sat on the edge of the twin bed he had claimed, and rebuttoned his shirt. “What are we hiding?”

“We’re hiding who we are.”

“Aiden, not that again.”

“I know how hard coming out to your family would be. But how fair is it to pretend, to either of us, to go on hiding like this? How long will we have to do it?”

“You act like you’re the only one who never hides things.” Daniel lay back on his bed and eyed Aiden. “You’re not always so open.”

Aiden plopped down on the quilt beside him. “What do you mean? When have I ever hidden anything?”

“What about those threatening messages you got last year when you still lived in Henry?” Daniel said. “You never told me anything about those until after we ran into each other in Glacier. You kept that from me for how long?”

Aiden rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling. He’d been leery when he’d first told Daniel about those threats. Shortly after Aiden had saved the Schrocks from the drunk driver, he had accepted a position with The Henry Blade, the town’s only newspaper. While there, he uncovered the suicide of a seventeen-year-old Amish youth from eight years before, Daniel’s second cousin, Kyle Yoder. His subsequent investigation into the unusual death led Aiden to believe he had been murdered. Pressure from his boss about the investigation forced Aiden to resign from the newspaper. But not before he received three mysterious threats. He guessed the threats most likely stemmed from his investigation into Kyle’s death. Either that or someone in the community suspected Aiden of being gay and resented him.

After their unexpected encounter at Glacier National Park in June, Aiden had shown Daniel the stored pictures of the threats he’d taken with his digital camera. The pumpkin someone had smashed against his bungalow and the message someone had spray painted in red block lettering on his front door: GET OUT OF TOWN. And there was the note someone had left in his mailbox with the same threatening message as the one on his door, punctuated with the homophobic, although archaic, name-calling “to the Sodomite.”

In typical Amish fashion, Daniel had remained impassive while he examined the photos. When he finished, he handed Aiden the camera without a word. But the mechanisms in Daniel’s mind were churning. His temples crinkled with thick, twine-like veins, his eyebrows fused together. And the incessant beard-tugging. Ultimately, he seemed to want to forget Aiden had ever mentioned it; bury another ugly reality under a mound of dirt.

And in that case, Aiden agreed.

“Totally different situation,” Aiden said, leaning on his elbow to stare at Daniel’s terse face. “We weren’t even together then. Besides, you already had enough burdens with me digging up Kyle’s death. I decided to show you those stupid threats so many months later because… well, I didn’t want any secrets between us. There wasn’t anything you could’ve done about it anyway.”

Daniel glared at Aiden. “There was a lot I coulda done.” He pushed himself off the bed and, grabbing a handful of bedclothes from the dresser, marched into the bathroom.

Bio:

Shelter Somerset enjoys writing about the lives of people who live off the land, whether they be the Amish, nineteenth-century pioneers, or modern-day idealists seeking to live apart from the crowd. Shelter’s fascination with the rustic, aesthetic lifestyle began as a child with family camping trips into the Blue Ridge Mountains. When not back home in Illinois writing, Shelter continues to explore America’s expansive backcountry and rural communities. Shelter’s philosophy is best summed up by the actor John Wayne: "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_419

http://www.amazon.com/Between-Two-Promises-ebook/dp/B005S4ENCE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319140075&sr=8-2

http://sheltersomerset.blogspot.com/

Tia Fielding and By Any Other Name

When I was sixteen, our local, tiny writers’ ”club” had this end of the summer event. There were a couple of less known writers there for workshops, and I was the only member under 30 to attend.  The local paper ran an article about the event, and of course I was the curiosity who got interviewed right after the organizers. My mom still has the clipping somewhere. Me, looking awfully uncomfortable and young, trying to look good for the camera.

The gist of my little interview was “I want to write a novel one day. Just to get one published is my ultimate dream.” and now, about fifteen years later, I’ve finally done it.

By Any Other Name came to be in a way that surprised me. I had this vague idea, but from the beginning I decided that I wouldn’t just write it. No, I’d plan it carefully (totally unlike me by the way, I never plan a thing, instead I just do…) and use November to write it, because some writer friends were doing National Novel Writing Month and well, I’d wanted to attend it for a couple of years.

I ended up making notes and whining and making more notes for better part of three months before November finally came. By the time I was able to start writing, the story poured out of me, and I had 50 thousand words to win in NaNoWriMo in 14 days.

Later on, during the editing process, I added plenty to it, but that was after my publisher asked me if I wanted it to be a novel, because as it was, Dreamspinner Press’ novels are over 60k words long. I jumped to it, and finally, a little more than nine months later my baby, By Any Other Name, was born.

My original idea was to write the sequel to BAON this year during NaNoWriMo, but I’m going to write something else instead. There is a sequel in my head though, I just need to fish it out, eventually.

BAON is basically a story about love, friendship and the healing process. I didn’t want it to be too heavy or concentrate on the abuse Skye suffers. There needed to be hope, and I wanted to show a person who is almost healed, who just needs the final nudge. That was where Thom and Dru came in.

I wanted to write a ménage, because I enjoy reading them myself, but I didn’t want there to be instant solutions or instant sex. Those I had read enough in my foray into finding good M/M/M-fiction. I hope By Any Other Name delivers a good story, likeable characters who seem real, who are confused and insecure at times. As humans, we all go through insecurity, even when it comes to the person we just know is the one for us, if we’ve been lucky enough to find them.

Maybe the message of BAON should be that love doesn’t heal you, but it does give a bloody good nudge to the right direction?

Blurb:

Dru and Thom have been together for three years, and despite Thom’s occasional bouts of insecurity and Dru’s fear of rejection, their relationship is rock solid. Then Dru’s long-lost friend, Skye, suddenly reappears, shocking them both. Skye suffered years of inconceivable abuse before escaping it, and while he’s back on track, he has nowhere else to go as he begins to rebuild his life. 

Dru, Thom, and Skye each want to belong somewhere, to belong with someone—or someones—with no fear of being hurt, set aside, or left behind. It’s a challenge with daunting odds, especially for Skye, who’s never loved before. He’s determined not to come between his two friends who so clearly belong together, and it will be up to Dru and Thom to conquer their fears and convince Skye to stay.

Excerpt:

Funny thing, how life turned out. He had never really thought about the whole cycle of things, but it was there. He had left Rowan Falls and Dru, and now he was going back to some fifty miles from Rowan Falls and to Dru. He hadn’t been sure about going back at all. Hell, who knew what Dru would think about him and how he had just vanished? Maybe he had been torn and hated Skye for leaving like that? Maybe he had felt betrayed?

The train of thought led Skye to berate himself; who knew if Dru even cared after the initial disappointment? 

Or maybe he had been happy to get rid of the poor kid who always hung around him? Why would he do this, except out of charity? He wouldn’t, not when he had a new life and all. Skye had gone online too, to do some research of his own on Doctor Al’s computer. Dru had a business that seemed to be doing well, or so 

Al had said after gathering information online. He also had a boyfriend. Or a partner—that was probably the right word for what that Thomas person was. Not only would Skye be living with Dru but with this Thomas, whom he had never met. The thought made his heart skip a beat and his breath catch in his throat.

“Skye, you ready?” one of the nurses, Tim, asked from the doorway of Skye’s room.

“Yeah, I am,” Skye said, clearing his throat as he glanced around and grabbed his duffle bag from the bed.

“They want you in the cafeteria.” Tim grinned, and Skye rolled his eyes. Whenever someone was released from Haven because they were doing well and going home or wherever, there was a little party. The other nutjobs would say nice things about the one leaving, and there would be cake. No balloons, though, not after Mr. Skittles had gone nuts and run into a wall the year before, when Melinda was released. Damn, that man was crazy—and apparently had a fear of balloons. Reminded him of clowns. Coulrophobia was something not to laugh at. Even the thought of that made Skye snort.

When Tim looked at him inquisitively, he mouthed “clowns” and made the nurse chuckle too. They had had this conversation before. It wasn’t clowns or balloons Skye was afraid of. His fears had to do with darkness, basements, small spaces, being confined, and anything overly religious in the Christian way. It made him want to puke, run, and faint in no particular order.

Bio:

Tia Fielding lives in a peaceful little town in a small country in northern Europe. She loves nature, her horses, cats, and even the yappy little thing that occasionally gets called a dog. Tia learned to read before she went to school at the age six and began writing as soon as she figured she had stories to tell around the mature age of seven. Stories about horses, adventures, and ghosts might have turned into hot GLBTQ-romance, but she still has a wicked imagination and, hopefully, more stories to tell.

Visit her at http://www.tiafielding.com and by Twitter @tiafielding.

Published stories: 

By Any Other Name (M/M/M-novel, contemporary) http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2479 (ebook)

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2480 (paperback)

http://www.amazon.com/By-Any-Other-Name-ebook/dp/B005IHDNBI (Kindle)

Auld Lang Syne (M/M-novella, contemporary, cowboys) http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2416

http://www.amazon.com/Auld-Lang-Syne-ebook/dp/B005DN0VNA (Kindle)

Unwind (M/M-short story, contemporary) http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2354

The Double Ds (M/M/F-short story, contemporary) http://summerhousepublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_book_info&products_id=20

http://www.amazon.com/The-Double-Ds-ebook/dp/B0052YPIH4/ (Kindle)