My guest author this week is Lex Valentine. Thanks for joining us, Lex.

Q: To begin, please share which genre you write in, and why…
A: Erotic paranormal romance mostly, but I’ll turn my hand to anything. I have this strange dichotomy going where I have to write in this fantasy world called the Darkworld filled with vampires who walk in the sun and dragon shifters but where I also show them having normal relationships and jobs. I’m just obsessed with showing fantasy creatures living lives like we do.

Q: How long did you write before you received your first contract for publication?
A: I’ve been writing since I was a kid, poetry for contests, short stories… but a few years ago I started writing in a paranormal serial story online. Then I started a blog a little over a year ago and posted some bits of my characters for Thursday 13’s. Author Jennifer Leeland came by, read my writing, and started urging me to get published. I really started work in earnest in July of 2008. I got my first contract Oct 30, 2008, the day before my birthday.

Q: So, if you don’t mind sharing, would you tell us about your latest work in progress?
A: I’ve got a number of things going actually. A 20K M/M ghost story called Rousing Caine that I’ll sub to MLR Press. A 20K M/M shifter story called Where There’s Smoke for an anthology with a couple of friends. Some holiday stories including a M/M cowboy story. Then it’s on to Ride the Lightning, Tales of the Darkworld Book 4 which is a BDSM story.

Q: Out of all the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite?
A: The Pixie Prince probably. It’s a Twisted Tale of the Darkworld which means it’s a twisted version of the Princess and the Pea fairy tale. The characters are fun and amusing and the story is upbeat without a heavy conflict. It’s just a fun story. It was just released this month at Cobblestone Press.

Q: Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?
A: Not really, other than I need to be at a computer and I’m most comfortable at my desk on my desktop computer. If I’m feeling moody I might need to put on some music.

Q: What’s the strangest source of inspiration you’ve found for a story?
A: Probably work. I had a daydream once when I was sitting in the mausoleum about vampires who owned a cemetery.

Q: If you could offer one tidbit of information for new writers, what would it be?
A: Don’t be so eager to be published that you’ll give your work to anyone. Make sure you’re subbing to a house that has a solid reputation for editing well and putting out a quality product. Getting tarred with the brush of a poorly edited book can be seriously detrimental to your reputation as a writer.

Q: Do you have an evil day job or do you write full time?
A: I have a full-time job but it’s not really evil despite the fact that it’s at a cemetery. I wish I could write full-time, but with the kind of economy we have right now, I’m grateful to have my job as network administrator.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: HA! The writing fills my spare time! Actually, I play a thoroughbred horse racing sim at DerbyFever.com. I’ve been there at least six years.

Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.
A: I’ve been to racing school twice. Once for open wheeled cars like Indy race cars and once for stock cars.

Q: What’s your favorite dirty word?
A: Shit. I’ll say that before I’ll say the F word.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday, and why?
A: Halloween! It’s my birthday. (Yes, I know it’s weird that I was born on Halloween, work at the cemetery, and write about vampires.)

Q: Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
A: No tattoos. I do have 6 holes in my left ear though. Three of the holes are cartilage piercings including a double helix. All of the holes have gauges in them. Currently, I’m wearing nothing but titanium 16 gauge body jewelry in all of the holes, both ears. I’ve been thinking about getting an industrial piercing when I turn 50. *wink*

Q: If you could be intimate with three people (not necessarily all at one time *g*) without getting in trouble with your significant other, who would they be?
A: Nikki Sixx, Marcus Schenkenberg, and Kelly Monaco

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
A: My computer with net access, a really comfy bed, and an unending supply of my favorite food and drink.

Q: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?
A: The first thing I would do is buy a brand new Dodge Charger. My car is limping currently and I’ve never had a brand new car. I drove my friend Hilly’s Charger and fell in love. The second thing I’d do is buy a house.

Q: Which household chore do you abhor and why?
A: The cat boxes. I have asthma. It makes me cough a lot.

Q: What’s your favorite comfort food?
A: My first instinct is to say coffee but it’s a drink. Prolly my mom’s pineapple chiffon cheesecake.

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures you feel comfortable sharing?
A: I’m addicted to hot wings and Dooney and Bourke purses. Can’t resist either.

Q: Do you have a favorite book or movie?
A: My favorite movie is the Gumball Rally. It’s old and corny but I love Raul Julia in it. My favorite book has to be Nikki Sixx’s Heroin Diaries. I was totally riveted.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A: I have a habit of getting on my IT soapbox and telling people not to buy eBook readers. Instead, I try to get them to buy netbooks instead. Less money, does more stuff.

Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share a yummy excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)
A: I’ve had four releases in the last six weeks or so. Mating and its companion story Runaways are at Freya’s Bower and ARe. The Pixie Prince is at Cobblestone Press. My big release for this month is Fire Season – Tales of the Darkworld Book 3. Full length, M/M dragon shifters! Next month, it’s the print release of Tales of the Darkworld Volume One which is Shifting Winds and Hot Water (Books 1 and 2 of the Tales) together.

I’m really pleased with the reception Fire Season has gotten. It’s gotten great reviews (an awesome one from Jessewave just this week) and people have posted in groups and emailed to let me know how much they like it. It’s really heart-warming because this is my longest published work to date and it’s my first M/M story published.

Here’s a blurb and excerpt for Fire Season.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcg4cxhM-hA
Buy Link: http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/index.php?/Lex-Valentine/Fire-Season-by-Lex-Valentine.html

Blurb:
Black dragon Holden Antaeus isn’t looking for a mate. His life is filled with family, work, and dating. Women adore him and he’s never short of offers for sex, but a relationship isn’t something he’s interested in. When Holden’s brother Sean hires a new executive for Antaeus International, Holden’s whole world, and everything he’s ever believed about himself, is blown to bits. Garret Renquist is a green dragon, intelligent, witty, bi-sexual, and hot for Holden. Despite the fact that Holden is positive he’s heterosexual, the moment he meets Garret, something happens inside him. What follows is a journey through stereotypes and ingrained beliefs as Holden struggles with the fact that his destined mate is a man.

EXCERPT:
Garret frowned as Holden’s hoodie hit the ground beside his backpack. Next came his t-shirt. “What are you doing?” he asked, striding across the glade toward Holden.
His mate looked up, golden eyes brimming with laughter, the pupils elongated. “Getting naked.” Holden popped the buttons on his jeans and moments later his shoes and socks, jeans and boxer briefs were on the grass.
A sigh of satisfaction escaped Garret as he watched Holden stretch his arms toward the sky. The man had the most perfect body Garret had ever seen. He felt his cock stir behind his zipper. Smoke poured from Holden’s nostrils, wreathing his head in a growing cloud and Garret realized what was about to happen.
Golden, confetti like shimmers filled the air where Holden stood. Within moments, instead of the hot, naked body of his mate, a huge black dragon appeared before Garret. The dragon let out a loud roar, its curved fangs slashing the air as the roar made the pines tremble.
“Show off,” Garret said with a grin.
I heard that, asshole.
Garret stared up at Holden’s big black scaled head questioningly. The amber eyes gleamed at him.
What? You didn’t think you could hear me? You’re my mate, no one else can hear me so well when I am in this form. Besides, I can’t shield you when I’m in dragon form. If I do, I can’t communicate with you.
“That’s true.” Garret set his backpack down beside Holden’s.
Get naked.
Holden’s thought had a sly emphasis and Garret stared up at him incredulously. “What? You want me to get naked?”
Holden’s big dragon head bobbed.
“Why?” Garret asked and Holden slapped his tail against the ground. The earth rumbled beneath Garret’s feet and his eyes widened. “Oh, fuck. You have to be joking.”
Holden shook his big head.
So not joking. And if you don’t get naked and shift, the next time I catch you in shifted form, I’ll pin you down and fuck your ass raw.
Startled, Garret looked into Holden’s huge golden eyes. There was laughter there but Garret got the sense that Holden wasn’t quite lying about the fucking either. As a threat, it wasn’t much of a deterrent, Garret thought, his mind flashing back to the night before. Being fucked by Holden had some distinct advantages. Garret pulled off his windbreaker and shirt. It took only a few moments to get down to his skin. Holden’s eyes never left him.
Fuck, you’re beautiful.
Garret grimaced at Holden’s thoughts. Men weren’t beautiful. He certainly wasn’t beautiful.
Shut up and shift already! And if I say you’re good looking, you are. I have great taste.
A chuckle escaped Garret as he concentrated on the shift. Golden sparkles shimmered in the air around him and he felt his dragon stretch, embracing the shift. When his form took shape, Garret knew exactly what Holden saw. A green dragon, slightly longer than Holden’s form, but not as bulky, his tail spiked and deadly, the iridescent shimmer of his wings stretching up toward the sky with a wingspan greater than that of Holden’s wings. His serpentine head swiveled toward Holden.
Geez, Garret. You coulda warned me. Tinged with amusement and admiration, Holden’s thoughts entered Garret’s head easily even in dragon form.
Warned you about what? Garret folded his wings and took a couple of steps toward Holden, stopping when their chests were but a few feet apart.
Holden snorted, smoke blowing out of his nostrils in a big puff. That you had a spiked tail. I was gonna offer to hold tails with you.
Garret could see the teasing in Holden’s eyes, but at the same time, he felt the swell of emotion that rose in his mate. It matched the emotion inside him that threatened to overwhelm his senses. Holding tails was an act of dragon intimacy, like holding hands. However, while someone might hold the hand of a friend, dragons never held the tail of other dragons unless it was their mate or their parent. Even siblings never grasped tails.
Holden, I…
Garret broke off his thought and looked away. He felt too much to be able to articulate his emotions to Holden. Just in the short time they’d known each other, he’d come to understand just who Holden Antaeus was. Everything about the man screamed fairness and integrity. That alone drew Garret like a moth to a flame. All his life, he’d been surrounded by people who used one another, who used him. As a consequence, he’d chosen his lovers carefully, nice, easy-going, milquetoast individuals that he could be friends with before and after sex. Nothing in his life had prepared him for a lover like Holden. Nothing had prepared him for falling fangs over tail in love.

Did you miss me?

So, I’m back from Kansas and Carol Lynne’s author/reader weekend. Actually, I returned home yesterday evening, but I was too brain dead to post anything. I had such a fabulous time that I don’t even know where to begin. Since we didn’t arrive until late Friday, we missed the cookout, but then I got to spend all day Saturday gabbing with the group and just hanging out. The highlights of Saturday included lunch and a movie (we went to see The Proposal) and dinner at Carol’s house. Suffice to say, everyone was very sweet and lovely. I’m sure my pictures don’t do any of them justice.

I’m going to upload a few pictures here, but the brunt of them will be posted on my yahoo group (and Carol’s group, of course).

Kansas scenery

Carol Lynne

The hotel where we all stayed

A photo of me and John (hubby) courtesy of Claire Thompson

A photo of John inside Cabelas in front of a neat display mount of two elephants

Your Gift is Intellect

You are a big thinker, and you’re always playing with new ideas. You are curious about the world. You enjoy learning and developing new theories.You enjoy researching, analyzing, and solving problems. Thinking hard feels good! You’re the type of person who finds most mental tasks to be easy. You love to stretch your brain.

What’s Your Gift?

This week’s guest author is Laura Tolomei, aka Lalla Gatta. Thanks for joining us Laura.

Q: To start off, why don’t you share which genre you write in…
A: I write M/M and ménage erotica in a variety of genres. Dark fantasy and paranormal are my usual themes, but I like to trespass into sci-fi, horror, adventure and contemporary for a change.

Q: How long did you write before you received your first contract for publication?
A: My writing history is long, but not continuous. I began in high school, about 27 years ago, and continued at Emory U as a journalist. Then love, work and life in general made me live, rather than write, until in the 90s I had to sit down and put on paper a personal experience that wouldn’t let me be. I turned it into a novel and it was the beginning of a new writing chapter in my life, which stepped up about 3 years ago when I decided I wanted to make a career out of it.

Q: So, if you don’t mind sharing, would you tell us about your latest work in progress?
A: I have just finished “To Seduce a Soulmate,” a contemporary M/M due out at Christmas, an intriguing tale about destiny needing a hand to make things work out as they should. As my hero discovers, finding a Soulmate was the easy part, but to seduce him became the hardest challenge of his life. I’m also completing “Tasting Leon’s Mark,” a contemporary M/M & ménage, a spin off from my soon to be released “Re-Scue”. Can a bloody game of knife and sex turn into a steady relationship?

Q: Out of all the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite?
A: “Divinitas” is among my favorites because it deals with central themes in my writing such as re-incarnation, destiny, love and betrayal. Like most of my works, it challenges the reader’s mind also due to its three-separate-story structure and different heroes. Likewise, “Re-Scue”, probably my favorite book of all, has a similar structure, very intense characters that change throughout the three stories even if it’s the same soul repeating its journey on Earth to learn its important lessons.

Q: Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?
A: As long as there’s music playing, I can be anywhere.

Q: What’s the strangest source of inspiration you’ve found for a story?
A: At work, watching a colleague, I imagined the third story of my book “Re-Scue”. In my imagination, I saw him as the perfect hunter thrown into 21st century Earth, a complicated character that loves to cut his lover with tiny superficial cuts before having passionate sex. Of course, my colleague is a wonderful person without a shred of violence in his whole entire being.

Q: If you could offer one tidbit of information for new writers, what would it be?
A: Don’t imitate others, write for your pleasure and write only if you have something to communicate.

Q: Do you have an evil day job or do you write full time?
A: I do, but I wouldn’t call it evil. I work in international trade so I get to travel around a bit, which isn’t bad at all. In addition, as I said before, my job is excellent as a source of inspiration.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Listen to music, play with my cats, go to the beach and lie under the hottest sun, make love…not necessarily in that order.

Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.
A: I abhor violence and get sick at the mere thought of physical pain. Yet, I had no problem at all writing about human sacrifices in “Sacrificial Sex” or about a violent relationship based on blood and sex in “Re-Scue”.

Q: What’s your favorite dirty word?
A: Fuck.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday, and why?
A: Summertime because I love sun, water, sea, beach, not to mention those hunks parading around in their trunks or even better in the nude. Talk about inspiration…

Q: Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
A: No. As I said, just the thought of something piercing my skin makes me sick.

Q: If you could be intimate with three people (not necessarily all at one time *g*) without getting in trouble with your significant other, who would they be?
A: I truly believe sex is meant to be shared, it’s too precious to lock away in a drawer or save for an exclusive use alone. So I’ve had and keep having intimate relationships as you call them with people that catch my fancy and my mate knows all about it.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
A: My mate, my lover and his/her lover

Q: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?
A: Traveling. Nothing beats going around the world, learning about other cultures, meeting different people, experiencing new foods, learning of other religions. It opens your mind, fills your heart, teaches you to be more tolerant with the infinite variety that makes up our world.

Q: Which household chore do you abhor and why?
A: Ironing…never could stand it probably because precision work isn’t my cup of tea. So I never do it and my mate is now quite good at it…when he has the time.

Q: What’s your favorite comfort food?
A: The fabulous 3 Ps, pizza, peanuts and potato chips.

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures you feel comfortable sharing?
A: Only when I squeeze and fondle my cats too hard. Just can’t resist those 5 furry adorable felines running around the house! LOL

Q: Do you have a favorite book or movie?
A: I’ve got plenty of both, but especially books. “Gone with the Wind”, “The Three Musketeers”, “Wuthering Heights”, “The Lord of Rings”, “The Lord of Flies”, “The Mists of Avalon”, “Fahrenheit 451”, “The Women’s Room”, “The Life and Loves of a She Devil”, “Blonde”, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” and the list could go on forever.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A: I hope my writing will help make people think and live better.

Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share a yummy excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)
A: My latest release is “Sacrificial Sex”, M/M dark fantasy, horror, paranormal, sci-fi published by eXtasy Books. A young man, thrown in a primitive world where blood and sex are sacrificed to sanguinary gods in a vicious ritual, tries to stop the sorcerer from satisfying his own bloodlust and sexual cravings on innocent virgins. An intended victim himself, the handsome stranger will use sexual persuasion to gain his trust without revealing the truth behind the bloody offerings. But in his dangerous quest to save the virgins, Rowen will get more blood, sex and cruelty than he has bargained for.

Excerpt

Permission granted, still a lifetime training hampered Patris’s movements so he entered hesitantly the sacred area, walking fast to reach its center and kneel next to Mylos’s naked form. “Master, there is a woman to see you. She has a…an offering with her.”
“How long since she came?”
“Well, Master, we had to look for you so she’s been waiting for a while.”
“Good.” Mylos’s hand grabbed Patris’s neck and pushed him down on his belly. “I’m sure she won’t mind waiting a little longer.”
Knowing exactly what his Master wanted, Patris opened his warm mouth, positioning it over the tip of the erection straining in front of his face. How long the Blood Divine had been like that, he had no idea, although he was sure or the remedy to release his Master’s tension. Without wasting more time, Patris’s hot cavity enveloped the bulging head and swallowed it. His tongue lashed out to curl around its thickness, sliding on the entire length in long, wet laps that covered each side. Hard sucks soon followed, tentative at first as if unsure on how to go about it. Hard, then more forcefully as he drew the cock further inside. He felt it strain against the confined space, hitting his cheek and palate before hovering on the brink of the throat fall.
In an attempt to fight him off, Patris breathed deeper and almost choked on it. Quick as lightning, it had inserted in the even tighter space available, trying to slide all the way down. Managing to keep it at bay was the start of a new game as his tongue wrapped around the stone-like shaft, traveling seductively from top to bottom, his head bobbing along with the movement, partly controlled by Mylos’s continued hold on his neck. He knew his Master wanted him to step up the rhythm so he had no choice but to comply. Using also his hands, he increased his lappings, sucking harder than before, uncaring if he choked, but coughing liberally if he could not resist…anything to please his Master.

I’ll be out of town for the next few days. I’m going to Carol Lynne’s first annual authors/readers weekend. If you happen to be in the Kansas City area, make sure you look us up and come say hi. You can find all the details for the soiree right here: http://cwp.marriott.com/kckro/carollynneweekend/

And for those of you not able to make it, I’m sure I’ll have a ton of pictures to share on Tuesday!

“The story touched my heart, proving just how quickly anyone’s living conditions could change. Amanda Young is a wonderful author and delivers messages about family, forgiveness, love, and personal growth to us in Chicken Ranch: Hunger. I could feel the struggle Declan had in making his decisions and could feel his fortitude to change his predicament into something positive. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.”
Scandalous Minx/Literary Nymphs Reviews

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F O R    I M M E D I A T E    R E L E A S E

All Romance Announces the launch of OmniLit™, Bringing eBooks Directly into the Homes and Digital Devices of R eaders of All Genres

Palm Harbor, FL (PRWEB) July 21, 2009 – The owners of All Romance™, an independent on-line bookstore specializing in the sale of romance eBooks, announced today the launch of OmniLit.com, a new site dedicated to the sale of fiction and non-fiction eBooks.

“The overwhelming success of the All Romance site spurred the expansion,” said Barbara Perfetti, the company’s Chief Financial Officer. “The publishing world is poised on the brink of an eBook explosion and we want to be ready on the forefront to meet that demand.”

OmniLit will offer genres currently not available on the All Romance site, including best sellers from some of the biggest names in publishing, as well as offerings from small, midsized, and indie presses. Customers will be able to select from hundreds of thousands of titles, everything from mainstream, children’s, and speculative fiction, to books on health & fitness, cooking, travel, and business.

“Readers used to the convenience of All Romance’s easy to navigate site and unsurpassed customer service can expect to find the same at OmniLit,” said Chief Operating Officer, Lori James. “Our goal is to hold on to what we believe are the best qualities of both the larger chain bookstores and the smaller independents, then offer that in digital. OmniLit’s customers will have the advantage of choice and a technically streamlined shopping experience, but t hey will also receive personalized service and support.”

All Romance eBooks, LLC was founded in 2006, is privately held in partnership, and headquartered in Palm Harbor, Florida. The company owns All Romance (allromanceebooks.com), which specializes in the sale of romance eBooks and OmniLit (omnilit.com) which sells both fiction and non-fiction eBooks.

You Are Not a Snob

In general, you’re a very open minded and kind person. There really isn’t a snobby bone in your body. You are very accepting.You’re not afraid to be who you are… you’re proud of your individuality. In truth, you think that snobby people aren’t good enough for you!

Are You Snobby?

My guest this week is one of my favorite authors, ZA Maxfield. Welcome and thanks for joining us this week, ZA!

Q: What genre do you write in, and why?
A: I write in m/m romance exclusively, but I sometimes write erotica, sometimes young adult. The stories I write can have other elements but they’re all romance, all the time.

Q: How long did you write before you received your first contract for publication?
A: I’ve always written, but never with the idea that I was going to WRITE. Once I decided that, my first contract came in about a year.

Q: So, if you don’t mind sharing, would you tell us about your latest work in progress?
A: Right now, I’ve just finished writing a full on blurb for my work in progress so here it is in all its blurbiness:

I’m writing about Rick and Logan, who are both in their mid forties. Rick is parenting his grandson, the child of the son he fathered out of wedlock in high school when he was under spectacular pressure to try to be straight. The kid, Nick, has had it rough and Rick’s pretty much the only one he has left. Rick loves that boy and since he never had the chance to be a part of his own child’s life because of the animosity of the boy’s mother, he vows nothing will stop him this time.

Logan has recently retired from the military where he’s kept his sexual orientation secret for over two decades. He isn’t sorry he did it, but he’s a little lonely without his peers and his family lives across the country. The minute he sets eyes on Rick, his heart turns over like an old car engine and it isn’t long before his motor is revved and Rick is in the driver’s seat.

Still, it’s not going to be easy to be a family, what with a temperamental eight-year-old-boys, custody problems, and outright extortion attempts. Logan’s out of the military and between gigs. Rick’s trying to make a family for the child he loves. Together, they’re planning to form a Family Unit, and they don’t plan to let anything stand in their way.

Q: Out of all the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite?
A: I don’t have a favorite, that’s like children. I like some for certain things and some for others. My newer ones seem to show a progression, more skill (such as it is) and I like that. Notturno is probably fun because I bounced from contemporary to a journal written in the sixteenth century. That was fun.

Q: Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?
A: I think I need to be alone. When people are around I tend to feel the need to observe and entertain. I tried to do NaNoWriMo write ins at Starbucks and couldn’t write a word!

Q: What’s the strangest source of inspiration you’ve found for a story?
A: That lonely, sparse little shelf of books in the “gay” section at Borders in Brea. There was one lousy shelf, and hardly any books or writers, literary or genre I recognized.

Q: If you could offer one tidbit of information for new writers, what would it be?
A: Write like the wind. Don’t stop, don’t look back, do the very best you can to get the story down, go back and do edits later, and declare it done when all you’re doing is tweaking a word in every paragraph each time you look at it. Seriously. Let it go. Sub it. Then don’t think about that one ever again and write the next one until you hear anything, if you ever do. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat, ad infinitum.

Q: Do you have an evil day job or do you write full time?
A: My evil day job, and night job, and even when I’m dead job, is motherhood.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I read a lot of books. I don’t watch commercial television except for the Superbowl and the World Series but there are some shows I DVR. I watch DVDs like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dr. Who. I try to get into whatever the kids are into.

Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.
A: I am a complete sloth. Maybe that doesn’t surprise anyone, but I have written a lot of books in a short time. All while remaining completely sloth-like.

Q: What’s your favorite dirty word?
A: I don’t really have a favorite dirty word. I don’t think they’re very creative. I drop the f-bomb a lot though.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday, and why?
A: Halloween. I like the idea of becoming something else, and when I was a kid it was the only time we really were allowed to roam the streets at night. It seemed so alive with the possibility for adventure and romance!

Q: Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
A: I have three piercings in my ears, two on one side and one on the other, but I only wear two earrings anymore, and no tattoos.

Q: If you could be intimate with three people (not necessarily all at one time *g*) without getting in trouble with your significant other, who would they be?
A: Do they have to be living? I mean yeah, sure when we do it, but… Okay. Chow Yun Fat, Flashman from the series by George MacDonald Fraser, and Lillian Hellman.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
A: My family, sunscreen, and a flush toilet.

Q: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?
A: I wish I had something really classy to say here, but I’d make sure that we never had to work again unless we could do what we loved, and I’d see to it that the kids got through college.

Q: Which household chore do you abhor and why?
A: All of them except for cooking, (it’s that sloth thing again.)

Q: What’s your favorite comfort food?
A: Meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes.

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures you feel comfortable sharing?
A: I really like olive bars, I’ve mentioned this before, and it’s still stupid, but I love those little kiosks in the supermarket where they have marinated olives and veggies. Salty, briny, spicy, olive oily

Q: Do you have a favorite book or movie?
A: I love the movie Strictly Ballroom. It’s like a Band-Aid for my soul.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A: I’d really like to share my housework, if anyone wants to do it they should just email me off list and let me know.

Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share a yummy excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)
A: My latest release, Drawn Together, just came out, and here’s an official excerpt of it complete with blurb and everything. Thanks so much for inviting me to do this. I find lately that I’m kind of an egomaniac and I love talking about my work. (It’s the curse of blogging.) It was entirely my pleasure to be here…probably Hope you had fun reading all this.

Drawn Together
Z.A. Maxfield
Now available at Loose Id

Rory might just be a simple southern boy from St. Antoine’s Parish Louisiana, but he knows what he wants. He’s been in love with the girl of his dreams, reclusive and mysterious artist Ran Yamane since junior high school and now he has the chance to meet her. He’s going to chuck everything and travel 1500 miles to Anime Expo in Long Beach to tell her and no one and nothing is going to stand in his way.

Ran Yamane is not a girl, but he gets that a lot. People come to him with teddy bears and chocolates and disappointment by the truckload. He’s trusted fans in the past and been tragically wrong. So when he meets Rory he’s understandably wary, but resigned. What he’s not prepared for is his magnetic attraction to the young man, Rory’s apparent willingness to overlook his gender, and the fact that their lives are both thrown into chaos when his number one fan (and psycho stalker) shows up to get revenge.
“Well,” Yamane grimaced and continued walking away. “Then I guess you know I… have relationships with men.”
Rory caught Yamane’s hand to stop him. “That ship kind of sailed when you put your tongue in my mouth, Ran-sensei,” Rory raised his eyebrows.
Yamane blanched. “Can we go get a drink somewhere? Do you mind missing the movie?”
Rory thought about that. “I only came here to find you,” he admitted carefully. He tried not to flinch under Yamane’s searching gaze.
“I thought you would be halfway home by now,” said Yamane as they walked.
“You mentioned that. Should I leave?” asked Rory, kicking another abandoned cigarette butt to the gutter. “Man, I hate it when people use the street as an ashtray.”
Yamane took out his pretty gold lighter and cigarettes. “May I smoke?”
“No.”
“I see,” Yamane stopped. “Then how about we make a trade, every time I want to smoke, you stop me by kissing me.”
Rory almost tripped. “Uh–”
Snick. Yamane lit his cigarette. “Problem solved.”
“Just don’t drop your nasty butt in the street.”
Yamane just stared implacably. They stood watching the traffic on Pine Avenue. He finished his cigarette in silence, carefully putting it out in a planter before throwing it in a trashcan. They entered the hotel lobby together and found The Lobby Bar, which exuded an airport lounge ambiance.
“This isn’t very attractive,” Yamane said, looking at his watch. “Are you very tired?”
“I haven’t slept much” Rory admitted. “I drove a long way.”
 “What would you like to drink?”
“Whatever you’re having,” answered Rory with a smile.
Yamane went to the bar and said something to the bartender. A moment later he motioned Rory over. “He’d like to see your I.D.”
Rory produced his wallet, and got his drink. As they were carrying them back to the table he said, “At home, all you have to do is prove you can hold a paper cup.”
“I’ve never been to New Orleans,” said Yamane, “perhaps someday I’ll visit you there.” They set their drinks on the table.
“Oh, I can see my grandmother now,” Rory threw his hands in the air and waved them around, saying in an agitated falsetto, “Oh, Claude! Oh, Claude! Rory has done brought home a Japanese Man! Somebody get me the salts.”
Yamane looked away. “I can see where that might be a problem.”
Rory briefly touched Yamane’s hand. “Nevertheless, I would be delighted.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” said Rory, “And I can show you all the best places.” His eyes clouded with sadness. “The ones that are still standing. Po’ Boys, pirates, and luscious white-trash junk food like you’ve never imagined.”
Yamane considered him. “What can I be,” he asked lightly, “now that I can’t be your sacred maiden?”
Rory thought about that for a long time while the warmth of the bourbon permeated his heart and spread to his fingertips. He clinked his ice around a little in his glass. “Perhaps you are still my sacred maiden.”
“Seriously,” said Yamane. He toyed with his own drink. “Now, what does that mean I wonder?”
Rory yawned self-consciously. “When you find out I sincerely hope I will be the first person you inform.”
Rory watched as Yamane walked to the bartender and–somehow–retrieved the entire bottle of bourbon from him. He came back to the table, putting on his coat and taking up his messenger bag.
“Bring your drink,” he told Rory.
They walked together to the elevators, pressing the button for the third floor. If anyone thought it odd that they carried their drinks and an entire bottle of bourbon, no one said anything. When they got off the elevator, Rory used his room key to open the door and crossed the room to the window.
“Damn,” he said. “It doesn’t open. I hoped there was a balcony.” He turned entirely around, a little unsteady on his feet, and plopped down in the corner where he’d napped that afternoon. “I wanted to sleep on a balcony and watch the sun rise.”
“You’d have a bit of a wait. Where you’re looking it doesn’t rise; it sets,” Yamane informed him. “Surely you’d rather sleep in the bed.” He took off his coat. “There are two. Safety in numbers.”
“I’m fine,” mumbled Rory. He stuffed his messenger bag under his head.
“At least take a pillow.” Yamane pulled a couple pillows off the bed and took them to Rory. Getting their drinks, he sat down cross-legged near Rory’s head with his back against the wall. “I brought your drink, if you want it.” He handed it over.
Rory sat up a little. “Nice. Thank you. It’s been rather a long day.”
“Yes, it has,” murmured Yamane softly. “Peewee’s big adventure.”
“Do you mind dimming the lights a little?”
“I don’t mind.” Yamane got up to turn off all but the light in the bathroom. “That okay?”
“Thank you.” Rory was drifting. Ran sat back down next to him. In the dim light Rory could hear the ice rattle in his glass as he sipped his drink.
 Rory briefly opened his eyes and found Yamane looking at him curiously. “What are you looking at?”
 “That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” said Yamane, lightly brushing a ribbon of hair back from Rory’s face. “I have no idea at all.”

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