Interview with Elle Preston, author of Illusions: Ravens of Darkness

Welcome to the book tour for Illusions: Ravens of Darkness by Elle Preston! Today you're going to get to know her and her book better in this exclusive interview. You can also read an excerpt over at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Enjoy the rest of the tour and good luck in the giveaway!

Illusions: Ravens of Darkness 

Ravens of Darkness 

Book One

Elle Preston 

Genre: Young Adult; Paranormal Romance 

Publisher: Lark Publishing Crew 

Date of Publication: November 14, 2020 

ISBN: 978-0578661230 

ASIN: B08NGC23MS 

Number of pages: 269 

Word Count: 84,000 

Cover Artist: Lark Publishing Crew 

Tagline: Nothing is what it seems. Not even love. 

Book Description: 

An ancient cult. A supernatural addiction. A forbidden love. Sixteen year old Evie Willow is terrified of drowning but she's even more afraid of her own feelings. 

When the charismatic and telepathic lifeguard, Talon Renwyck, suddenly turns his affections toward her, Evie’s ability to rein in her feelings is threatened. Talon knows a secret which plunges Evie into the deep waters of her hidden emotions. As she drifts away from the life she knows into Talon’s beckoning arms, Evie learns that Talon is much more than just the handsome guy she’s falling in love with. Caught in a dark and supernatural addiction and tied to a secret cult, Talon is crying out for help. Can Evie save him from himself? 

Is their love the real deal or is it an illusion? 

Nothing is what it seems.

Illusions is the first book in the Ravens of Darkness Series. 

If you like character driven, paranormal romance sagas with supernatural elements, darkly dynamic love relationships, and a hint of magic and mystery, then you'll love the Ravens of Darkness Series. 

Book Two, Reflections, to be released November 2021 

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/EpJdxBUs4Ac  

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What was the inspiration behind this book?
It sounds funny to say, but toxic relationships were the inspiration for this book. The story, at the character level, is about a relationship between an empath and a narcissist and how that plays out for each person. I didn't begin writing a paranormal story, but as I started researching the empath/narcissist dynamic, I thought it would be interesting to make Evie Willow’s empathy more like a super power. Sometimes this power is her greatest asset, but it can also be her biggest downfall -- like when she gets entangled with Talon Renwyck, the handsome narcissist who tries to tempt her into his supernatural world.

What kind of research did you have to do for it?
I read a lot of psychology articles about empathy and narcissism and the toxic nature of that pairing. I wanted to show how Evie and Talon have a codependent relationship, so I read a lot of case studies and online discussion forums to see what people were saying about this kind of relationship from their own experiences.

Which character was your favorite to write?
Alex Greyson was my favorite character to write in this book. He’s clever, snarky and brutally honest. He also has a crush on Evie and is constantly bugging her about her codependent relationship with Talon. His scenes were always the most fun to write.

Will we see these characters again?
YES!! Illusions is the first book in a series. Evie, Talon and Alex all come back in book two, Reflections, which is due to come out this November. I also just finished writing book three and have an outline for book four as well. I think this will be a five book series with plans to expand some of the side characters into a spin-off series.

How do you make yourself stand out in this genre?
Well, I think a big trend is having teenage female protagonists that are super strong, sure of themselves all the time, and ready to kick butt and take names and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I feel like maybe I’m doing something a little bit different. My MC is very strong emotionally, but she’s not sure of herself at first. She is new to her supernatural abilities and doesn’t know how to use them. She hasn't quite found her voice yet in her personal life and relationships. I think back to when I was a teen: I had nothing figured out, made a lot of mistakes and did stupid stuff. I think it takes time to find one’s voice. So I hope people will see Evie as a little more “real.” She’s figuring things out. It’s sometimes frustrating to see her make mistakes but also fulfilling to see her grow throughout the series.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation. I hate driving and am always late. Being able to teleport myself somewhere instantly would be really great!

Let’s say I’m coming for a visit to your area. What are some must-see places?
The Indiana Dunes National Park. The beaches and walking trails are beautiful and inspirational. It’s always had a mystical, spiritual feel to me which is why I chose it as the setting for my books.

About the Author:

Elle Preston is the author of the Ravens of Darkness series, a young adult, paranormal romance saga. Illusions, Book One, is her debut novel. Book Two, Reflections, is set to be released November 2021. She is currently working on the third book in the series. Elle lives with her husband, five kids and several fur babies near the shores of Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes where she sets her novels.

http://ellebooks.com

https://bit.ly/Ellesnewsletter

https://twitter.com/preston_elle

https://www.facebook.com/EllePrestonAuthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14124966.Elle_Preston

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It Happened on Thunder Road by Susan Antony

 

Welcome to the book tour for It Happened on Thunder Road by Susan Antony! You can check out an excerpt here today before downloading your own copy. I also have another excerpt and an interview with the author over at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Leave more questions in the comments section. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

It Happened on Thunder Road
Susan Antony

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance, Suspense, Paranormal Elements
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: 04-24-21
ISBN: 1509235329
ASIN: B08YY7BTJB
Number of pages: 292
Word Count: 72000
Cover Artist: Kim Mendoza

Tagline: Hang on, baby, for the ride of your life.

Book Description:

When Emmy Russo returns to high school in Moncks Corner, South Carolina after summer break, she discovers some changes. First: Mom has a boyfriend. Second: the cute new student, Charlie Fields, is a Rockabilly greaser with a gang who obeys his every command. Third: attractive Keir Harper wants to be more than just her best friend. And fourth: a perplexed Emmy soon finds herself drawn to two extremely different boys. How do you choose between sweet and smoldering?

Then tragedy strikes on desolate Thunder Road. Strange things start happening, with Emmy in the middle of it all. Intent on finding the truth, she must fight for her heart, her life, maybe even her soul. Because someone wants to possess all of Emmy. And they will be together, no matter what the cost. For eternity.

Read an excerpt:

We faced each other for a beat or two. Then he placed his arm around my shoulder and took my hand in his, positioning his body a respectable distance away. We danced, slow and reserved at first, but as the singer’s wails intensified, so did Charlie’s moves. His hips swayed from side to side, and he inched closer to me, smidgen by smidgen, until his pelvis ground against my hipbones.

Our bodies melded, moving together in perfect synchronicity. Side to side. Back and forth. He moved his hand to my lower back and pulled me closer. I took in a quick, sharp breath. He

“You know, baby,” he murmured, “You and me have more than chemistry. We have fire. Not the easy kind of fire you can make from a box of matches, but the kind of fire you get when you rub two sticks together. I’m all yours if you want me.”

The world around me blurred as if I were watching it through thick lenses. I imagined Charlie’s lips against mine. I imagined him shirtless, propped above me, his triceps bulging as he slowly lowered his chest—mine rising toward his, beckoning him closer. He groaned a low animal-like sound. It drew me to him.

And I wanted him bad.

I wanted our bodies to burn in Hell together for all eternity.

What was happening? Had I lost my mind? I wasn’t ready. Was I?

No.

Spasms of panic surged from my loins to the deepest recesses in my brain. In a sharp snap, the imaginary lenses cracked, and through the broken glass was a clear image of a boy with kind eyes and a halo of yellow hair.

Keir was my angel, and I was dancing with the devil. A devil who would betray his brother. A devil who would convince me to betray him as well.

I shuddered and pressed my free hand, fiercely against his shoulder. He clutched me tighter.

“Charlie, please. We can’t do this.”

“Why not?” he demanded.

I took in a long, ragged breath. “Because I don’t want to hurt Keir. He likes me.”

He forced a laugh and loosened his grip. My hand slipped from his, and he leaned toward me. His chin brushed against my cheek, and flesh bumps shimmied down my spine.

“That was the right answer, New Jersey,” he whispered in a throaty voice. “Welcome to the gang.”

Amazon * BN * Bookbub * Target * Kobo

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Susan Antony, an aspiring Renaissance woman, never shies from a challenge. Not only does she have a degree in the Liberal Arts, she has a degree in Automotive Technology. She currently works in the IT department at a local Charleston hospital. Susan lives with her teenaged son and two behaviorally-challenged Cairn Terriers. To maintain her sanity, she cherishes her Friday evenings dancing the night away!

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@susanantony1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanAntonyCS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanAntonyCS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanantonyauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57309229-it-happened-on-thunder-road

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Electric Gardens (Electric World Book 1) by M. Black

Welcome to the book blitz for Electric Gardens by M. Black. This book is the first in the Electric World series. Check out the book trailer and then download your own copy! You can also see an interview with the author here. 

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites, at no additional cost to you.

Electric Gardens (Electric World Book One)

Lexi019, like many other young adults, are confined to what is called a Compound controlled by Tins. Upon their eighteenth birthday they are relocated to serve in the Electric Gardens. But Lexi019 has never been compliant, being glitches frequently for misbehavior that leads her into many hot nights in the cells of the Compound.

Friend Kyle53 wants to escape too, and with a war raging inside of him after his sister was taken to be Meshed (tries inserted into the human brain to render humans compliant), the two embark on a dangerous journey of escape. When they run into some unlikely friends, the two eventually enter the Electric Gardens to forge a way out of the Compound, but will they get out in time or will the Tins, like with the rest of world, find the first?

4 Book Electric World Series: 

Electric Gardens, Electric Grids, Electric Wars, Electric Ends

Buy on Amazon  

About M. Black

M.Black is a TOP #100 AMAZON Bestseller. She is the author of EXOTIQA WORLD (Cyberpunk Dystopia), GRAPH WORLD (SFF Post-Apocalyptic), SIM WORLD (SciFi Dystopia Post-Apocalyptic) and ELECTRIC WORLD (Robot Post-Apocalyptic).

A semi-finalist author of Lauren Hemingway Contest, she is now published with CREATIVIA.

ENTER TOMORROW with M. Black are YA and NA Dystopias or Post-Apocalyptic stories with a healthy does of SyFy, Fantasy, Future Tech or Robots.

Her books are socially relevant, original, dark & sexy, with characters that dig into your heart, and plot lines that really do surprise. Stories focus on robots, AI, SIMS, genetics, climate, environment, wildlife, grafting, social divisions, neural laces, and future tech.

M.Black is passionate about the Earth, animals, robots and technology. You will find all of these concepts as parts of the themes used in her brand of books ENTER TOMORROW.

M. Black loves to explore future worlds that are falling apart and she likes to keep the reader guessing.

You can find her at http://MBlackDystopianThrillers.blogspot.com

https://www.amazon.com/M-Black/e/B01MU32XQK

https://www.creativia.org/author-mblack.html

Dark Siren by Eden Ashley Free Book Blitz!

Dark Siren
Book 1

Eden Ashley

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Eden Ashley
Date of Publication: July 2013
ISBN: 0989963217
ASIN: B00DSPPOX2
Number of pages: 427
Word Count: 100K
Cover Artist: Victoria Faye






Book Description:

To survive, their bond must be unbreakable.

When the mysterious and passionate Rhane rescues Kali from an attacker in the theater parking lot, they form an immediate, smoldering connection. But Kali doesn't remember Rhane or anything from their past. As far as Kali knows, she's just a seventeen-year-old kid coping with an insatiable hunger for the “spark” or energy of others, feeding on classmates to survive.

A unique artifact—one that may hold the key to returning Kali’s memories—is uncovered by the archaeology firm where she works part-time, sending Kali and Rhane on a dangerous journey that leads them to the Forbidden City, into the unforgiving Gobi, and into the ruins of Rhane’s ancient homeland. As they fight for survival, Kali begins to discover who she really is and the true power she possesses. But Rhane still harbors a secret that could destroy Kali…unless old enemies kill her first.

Buy links

Amazon / iTunes / BN / Smashwords

Read an excerpt:

The stranger shifted, leaning over until his mouth was within a millimeter of her left ear. He spoke softly, his lips brushing against some serious nerve endings, “Is this seat taken?” 

With a nervous shiver, she blinked long and slow, savoring the low and sexy quality of his voice. Then she edged away to put at least an inch between his lips and her ear. If he touched her like that again, Kali was very likely to embarrass herself. Just as she was about to answer his question, the room brightened with light from the illuminated screen. What Kali saw made her jaw drop. 

If an eighty-year-old grandmother had been sitting next to her when this guy had shown up, Kali would have politely asked the old lady to move so the stranger could sit down. He was absurdly good looking. Silver lighting accented every perfect line and angle of his face. Several locks from his thick mass of hair fell idly across his forehead, slightly curling at the ends. There was softness to his features that suggested he could be a keeper.

The stranger returned Kali’s stare with an intensity that took in every part of her. But his eyes never left her face.

Realizing she had been staring at him stupidly for far too long, Kali struggled to find something to say. “I’m…” She cleared her throat. “It’s yours.” 

He finally looked away. Whatever tied her to him was loosed, and Kali pulled her gaze away. They didn’t speak again for a long time, but Kali was constantly aware of him. She kept stealing furtive glances in his direction because the sight of him was more enthralling than anything the movie had to offer. Growing bolder, Kali watched him from the corner of her eye at increasingly longer intervals. Apparently, the stranger was not as bothered as she was. Relaxed in his seat, he sat observing the screen with languid interest, doing a pretty good job convincing her that he’d forgotten anyone was beside him. Kali was so immersed with watching him, and was completely startled when he spoke.

“It’s not polite to stare,” he murmured softly without taking his eyes from the screen.

Kali jerked and turned away. But she wasn’t fast enough and was mortified to see the beginning of a satisfied smile appear on his face. She slid down into the chair, grateful for the darkness that concealed a blush spreading across her cheeks. From then on she tried to concentrate on the movie. But it was useless. She gave up and watched the screen absently, all the while thinking about the guy sitting next to her and how he probably thought she was an absolute dork. She didn’t get it. Boys never had this affect on her. For the past two years, it had always been them falling helplessly at her feet.

A mutated mix of human and creature launched itself from a quiet scene, growling and snarling into the camera. Several audience members jumped in surprise, and Kali was one of them. She made a noise that sounded like a strangled bird.

“Do these things frighten you?” the stranger asked. He was clearly enjoying her discomfort.

Kali cleared her throat. “Why would they? This stuff isn’t real.” This time, she didn’t look at him.

After a long moment, he spoke again. “Right,” he slowly agreed.

About Eden Ashley

Realist, cynic, and hopeless romantic all rolled into one, Eden lives in a small, sunny town in SC where thunderstorms inspire her best ideas. When not daydreaming about her next novel, Eden can be found curled up with a musty old paperback and a cup of coffee...or mired deeply in her next plot to take over the world. She enjoys reading or watching anything with supernatural elements, so writing paranormal and fantasy romance is a natural fit.

Blog: http://edenbynite.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdenAshleyAuthor

Twitter: @Eden_byNite

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7150184.Eden_Ashley

Tour giveaway 

2 $10 Starbucks Gift Cards

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Meet Aidan O'Linn from the Dark Cycle series by Rachel A. Marks

Today you are getting the chance to get to know Aidan O'Linn, one of the characters in the Dark Cycle series by Rachel A. Marks. He is a bit of a stinker and didn't want to answer all of the questions, but we tried!

Hello, Aidan, how about if you describe yourself for us?

Well, according to the cops I'm: male, 5' 7", middle-eastern decent, white t-shirt, jeans, with a bad case of not giving a sh*t about rules—who can care about rules, though, when you're fully aware of . . . well, everything? But according to my little sister, Ava, I'm just a dork.

What do you do for fun? 

Ha! Fun? What's that? Okay, I think if I even had time for that I'd just pretend I didn't know all the things I know. But you can't take a vacation from your mind without serious side effects. At least, I can't.

Do you have a special skill? 

Um . . . you could say that. Not that I talk about it. Maybe you could ask another question?

What is your biggest dream? 

Seriously? That's your question?

Okay, fine, what’s your darkest secret? 

Dude, you're not giving up are you? I'm not dealing out my darkest secret. But . . . I will tell you that I might have seen your soul when I walked in. Oh, and I could see when you lied to your assistant just now.

Well, that's, uh—what’s your favorite hobby? 

Watching demons disintegrate—wait did I just say that out loud?

Amazing! Then I'd love to hear you describe the craziest thing you have done. 

Well, since we're opening up now, I guess I'll have to say burning down a Circle K was pretty crazy. And helping that girl, Rebecca, might've not been the hottest idea I ever had. But then there was the time I . . . um, well, I think I might've said enough.

Favorite fictional character? 

I don't have much of a chance to watch TV or go to the movies. But I always liked that kid from the book about wizards. What was his name? Ron! Yeah, he was funny.

Learn more about Aidan in the Dark Cycle series:

Darkness Brutal
The Dark Cycle
Book One

Rachel A. Marks

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Skyscape
Date of Publication: July 1st, 2015
ISBN: 978-1477830796
ASIN: B00S6Z3S82
Number of pages: 422

Word Count: 120,000
Cover Artist: Cliff Neilson

Book Description:

Aidan O’Linn’s childhood ended the night he saw a demon kill his mother and mark his sister, Ava, with Darkness. Since then, every three years the demons have returned to try to claim her. Living in the gritty, forgotten corners of Los Angeles, Aidan has managed to protect his sister, but he knows that even his powers to fight demons and speak dead languages won’t keep her safe for much longer.

In desperation, Aidan seeks out the help of Sid, the enigmatic leader of a group of teens who run LA Paranormal, an Internet reality show that fights demons and ghosts. In their company, Aidan believes he’s finally found a haven for Ava. But when he meets Kara, a broken girl who can spin a hypnotic web of passionate energy, he awakens powers he didn’t know he had―and unleashes a new era of war between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness.

With the fate of humanity in his hands, can Aidan keep the Darkness at bay and accept his brilliant, terrifying destiny?

Amazon * Listen to an Audio Sample

Excerpt:

I let the pulse of the music coat me and mute my surroundings. A mass of people crowd the dance floor of the club, and I sit on an abandoned couch in the corner. The lights beat at the air in blues and greens, and bodies twist and merge to the thunder. I lean back, close my eyes, and try to get lost in it, the smells and sounds of people and their collective high.

Something moves next to me. I look over to find a girl sprawled on the seat beside me, trying to catch her breath. She’s not dressed in the usual club gear, more like a girl who got lost on her way to a beach party: Hurley T-shirt, jean skirt, and red Converse. Her cheeks are flushed pink; her throat and forehead glitter with sweat. She glances at me like she didn’t know I was there. She licks her upper lip, her eyes not leaving mine. Then she says something I can’t hear.

I point to my ear and shake my head.

She smiles and laughs, lighting up the space around her. She rests her hand on my arm, like we’re friends and I just told her the most hilarious joke, and then she gets up and disappears into the mass of bodies again.

My arm tingles, my body reacting to the moment of contact in a sudden and disconcerting way. I think I’ve had my fill of watching people indulge their baser instincts. I need to get out of here.

The beat of the music speeds up, vibrating faster as I move through the crowd. I try not to touch anyone, which is nearly impossible. All the emotions and appetites are overwhelming, as if the rising rhythm of the music makes their yearnings rise, too. Lust buzzes in the air. A hunger stirs in me, a gaping hole, needing to be filled. With touch.

The touch of female fingers. A hand on my arm, taking my wrist, pulling me into the fray, into the pressing bodies. And I don’t try to escape. I let her take me.

Because I’m tired.

Because I’m a dumbass.

A girl moves in front of me—not the Hurley girl, not the one I was hoping for. She presses closer, so close I can almost taste the salty perspiration on her skin. She has thin, birdlike shoulders, a swan neck, a heart-shaped face, and black hair, long and tangled, turning blue and green with the light. Her hands slide up my chest. She wraps her arms around my neck and tilts her head to look up at me.

Her lips are full and painted dark purple. There’s a dimple in her left cheek that gets deeper with her growing smile. And her eyes . . .

Fog fills my head for a second, interrupting my thoughts.

“Hi,” she mouths, calling attention to her lips again.

And then she’s rising up on her toes, pulling me down to her, twisting her fingers in my hair, her lips smashing against mine.

My body buzzes from her touch, and my hands react, drawing her into me. I drink her in. She tastes like the air around me, hunger and urgency, and—

Green apple Jolly Ranchers?

I grip her sides, her ribs so delicate beneath my fingers. The sweet tang of her teases me, the hunger becoming a monster deep inside. I have to press her closer, tighter, try to feed it, as I feel the fire of her need link with mine.

She pulls back a little and looks at me with wide eyes, like she’s shocked. That’s when I see the mark, a glowing, blue-inked line of what looks like Chinese symbols, trailing down the nape of her neck to her shoulder blade. Symbols that I’m suddenly sure mean: touch this girl at your own risk.

It’s the only thing I see for a second: Beware. Beware.

Until her energy reaches for me, wispy tendrils of blue light wrapping their way around my wrists and snaking up my chest.

I jerk away, into the guy behind me, stepping on his girlfriend’s toes. I get shoved— thankfully farther from the hypnotic girl—through a space in the crowd, saying a hundred excuse-me’s even though I know no one can hear them. I find my way out of the press of bodies to the edge of the room again where it’s safe.

It’s time to leave. I should’ve left an hour ago.

Darkness Fair

The Dark Cycle
Book Two

Rachel A. Marks

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Skyscape
Date of Publication: 2/1/16
ISBN: 978-1503950290
ASIN: B00YDJKE00
Number of pages: 335
Cover Artist: Cliff Neilson

Book Description:

Against the backdrop of an ancient battle between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness, Aidan struggles to control the newly awakened powers that seem to be his only hope for rescuing Ava, his little sister, trapped somewhere beyond the Veil. As he gravitates to Kara, the beguiling and dangerously unstable girl who helped him realize his abilities, a terrible mistake of fate is revealed that points him back toward Rebecca, whose role is becoming more critical to the battle. And no matter what his heart wants, it might be too late to stop the pieces already in motion.

Without knowing the sacrifices that will be required of them, Aidan and his motley crew of friends—each with their own role to play—must face the demon threat head-on. They’re the only ones keeping the growing army of Darkness at bay, and if they fail, the future of humanity could be lost.

Amazon * Listen to an Audio Sample

About the Author:

Rachel A. Marks is an award-winning author and professional artist, a SoCal girl, cancer survivor, a surfer and dirt-bike rider, chocolate lover and keeper of faerie secrets. She was voted: Most Likely to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, but hopes she'll never have to test the theory. Her debut series The Dark Cycle, described as Dickens' Oliver Twist meets TV's Supernatural, is now out through Skyscape, beginning with DARKNESS BRUTAL.

Website: http://www.rachelannemarks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelAnneMarks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4094113.Rachel_A_Marks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelannemarks

Tour giveaway

$20 Amazon giftcard and chosen paperback or audio in the series

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How the story of 'Becoming Andy Hunsinger' is still relevant today

Greetings to Andi's Young Adult Books followers and readers. Thanks so much for having me here.

My novel, Becoming Andy Hunsinger, is designated by my publisher, Prizm Books, as an "Edgy Young Adult" book. The story unfolds in the mid-1970's in conservative Tallahassee, Florida, where I attended law school at the time, at Florida State University. My book's not autobiographical; it's a work of fiction, but certain events appearing in my novel actually occurred during my three years in Tallahassee.

My main character, Andy Hunsinger, is a 22-year-old college student who has just realized he's gay, after a sexual experience with a serviceman while Andy was on summer break from school. When Andy returns to FSU for his senior year, he embarks on a mission: he will find himself a boyfriend, no matter what it takes. And it's not an easy undertaking. Along the way, Andy finds out who his real friends are when he's involuntarily "outed" to friends, family, ad co-workers.

For this guest blog, I was asked a question: Does the story of Andy's struggle, which took place forty years ago, still have relevance in today's world, where attitudes have changed dramatically with respect to same-sex relationships?

It's a good question, one I'll try my best to answer.

We live in a time when same-sex marriage has become legal in many U.S. jurisdictions. It's an era where popular entertainers like Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres live in openly gay relationships without any negative consequences. So I think there's popular misconception about just how accepting teenagers and young adults are about gay relationships, particularly between boys.

Through my website, I frequently hear from gay boys in their teens and young men in their early twenties, and I can tell you, most of the messages I receive are not upbeat. There's still a lot of homophobia in our middle schools and high schools. Gay kids are bullied and ridiculed, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. And even on college campuses, many gay students remain in the closet for fear of rejection by their peers.

It's these boys and young men I want to reach out to with Becoming Andy Hunsinger. In the book's first pages I include two quotes, one from E. E. Cummings, and the other from The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss.

The Cummings quote says, "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."

The Dr. Seuss quote says, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don’t mind."

And you know, those are statements that don't apply only to gay boys and men. In a sense they speak to all of us who are different, whether it's because of our ethnicity, our spiritual beliefs, our political creed, or even our sense of fashion. The message of Becoming Andy Hunsinger is, "It's okay to be different." And I think that message is still as relevant in today as it was back in 1976.

I want to thank Andi's Young Adult Books for hosting me today. It's been a pleasure, and if any followers or readers have questions they'd like to ask me, about my books or anything else, feel free to send questions through this blog and I'll answer them as best I can.

Happy reading, friends.

Becoming Andy Hunsinger

by Jere' M. Fishback

Genre: Historical romance, GLBT,
Historical,Edgy Young Adult
Publisher: Prizm Books
Date of Publication: December 30, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-61040-858-5
ASIN: B00RN6L8HS
Number of pages: 208
Word Count: 65,800
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde

Book Description:

It's 1976, and Anita Bryant's homophobic "Save Our Children" crusade rages through Florida. When Andy Hunsinger, a closeted gay college student, joins in a demonstration protesting Bryant's appearance in Tallahassee, his straight boy image is shattered when he's "outed" by a TV news reporter.

In the months following, Andy discovers just what it means to be openly gay in a society that condemns love between two men.

Can Andy's friendship with Travis, a devout Christian who's fighting his own sexual urges, develop into something deeper?

Read an excerpt:

On my seventh birthday, my parents gave me a Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat.

I still have it; the book rests on the shelf above my desk, along with other Seuss works I've collected. Inside The Cat in the Hat's cover, my mother wrote an inscription, using her English teacher's precise penmanship.

 "Happy Birthday, Andy. As you grow older, you'll realize many truths dwell within these pages. Much love, Mom and Dad."

Mom was right, of course. She most always is.

My favorite line in The Cat in the Hat is this one:

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

                                                            ***

Loretta McPhail was a notorious Tallahassee slumlord. On a steamy afternoon, in August 1976, she spoke to me in her North Florida drawl: part magnolia, part crosscut saw.

"The rent's one-twenty-five. I'll need first, last, and a security deposit, no exceptions."

McPhail wore a short-sleeved shirtwaist dress, spectator pumps, and a straw hat with a green plastic windowpane sewn into the brim. Her skin was as pale as cake flour. A gray moustache grew on her winkled upper lip, and age spots peppered the backs of her hands. Her eyeglasses had lenses so thick her gaze looked buggy.

I'd heard McPhail held title to more than fifty properties in town, all of them cited multiple times for violation of local building codes. She owned rooming houses, single family homes, and small apartment buildings, mostly in neighborhoods surrounding Florida State University's campus. Like me, her tenants sought cheap rent; they didn't care if the roof leaked or the furnace didn't work.

The Franklin Street apartment I viewed with McPhail wasn't much: a living room and kitchen, divided by a three-quarter wall; a bedroom with windows looking into the rear and side yards; a bathroom with a wall-mounted sink, a shower stall and a toilet with a broken seat. In each room, the plaster ceilings bore water marks. The carpet was a leopard skin of suspicious-looking stains, and the whole place stank of mildew and cat pee.

McPhail's building was a two-storied, red brick four-plex with casement windows that opened like book covers, a Panhandle style of architecture popular in the 1950s. Shingles on the pitched roof curled at their edges. Live oaks and longleaf pines shaded the crabgrass lawn, and skeletal azaleas clung to the building's exterior.

In the kitchen, I peeked inside a rust-pitted Frigidaire. The previous tenant had left gifts: a half-empty ketchup bottle, another of pickle relish. A carton of orange juice with an expiration date three months past sat beside a tub of margarine.

Out in the stairwell, piano music tinkled -- a jazzy number I didn't recognize.

McPhail clucked her tongue and shook her head.

"I've told Fergal -- and I mean several times -- to close his door when he plays, but he never does. I'm not sure why I put up with that boy."

McPhail pulled a pack of Marlboros from a pocket in the skirt of her dress. After tapping out two cigarettes, she jammed both between her lips. She lit the Marlboros with a brushed-chrome Zippo, and then she gave me one cigarette.

I puffed and tapped a toe, letting my gaze travel about the kitchen. I studied the chipped porcelain sink, scratched Formica countertops, and drippy faucet. Blackened food caked the range's burner pans. The linoleum floor's confetti motif had long ago disappeared in high-traffic areas. Okay, the place was a dump. But the rent was cheap, and campus was less than a mile away. I could ride my bike to classes, and to my part-time job as caddy at the Capital City Country Club.

Still, I hesitated.

The past two years, I'd lived in my fraternity house with forty brothers. I took my meals there, too. If I rented McPhail's apartment, I'd have to cook for myself. What would I eat? Where would I shop for food?

Other questions flooded my brain. Where would I wash my clothes? And how did a guy open a utilities account? The apartment wasn't furnished. Where would I purchase a bed? What about a dinette and living room furniture? And how much did such things cost? It all seemed so complicated.

Still . . .

Lack of privacy at the fraternity house would pose a problem for me this year. Over summer break -- back home in Pensacola -- I'd experienced my first sexual encounter with another male, a lanky serviceman named Jeff Dellinger, age twenty-four. Jeff was a Second Lieutenant from Eglin Air Force Base. I met him at a sand volleyball game behind a Pensacola Beach hotel, and he seemed friendly. I liked his dark hair, slim physique, and ready smile, but wasn't expecting anything personal to happen between us.

After all, I was a "straight boy", right?

We bought each other beers at the Tiki bar, and then Jeff invited me up to his hotel room. Once we reached the room, Jeff prepared two vodka/tonics. My drink struck like snake venom, and then my brain fuzzed. Jeff opened a bureau drawer; he produced a lethal-looking pistol fashioned from black metal. The pistol had a matte finish and a checked grip.

"Ever seen one of these?"

I shook my head.

"It's an M1911 -- official Air Force issue. I've fired it dozens of times."

Jeff raised the gun to shoulder height. He closed one eye, focused his other on the pistol's barrel sight. "Shooting's almost... sensual," he said. Then he looked at me. "It's like sex, if you know what I mean."

I shrugged, not knowing what to say.

Jeff handed the pistol to me. It weighed more than I'd expected, between two and three pounds. I turned the pistol here and there, admiring its sleek contours. The grip felt cold against my palm and a shiver ran through me. I'd never fired a handgun, never thought to.

"Is it loaded?" I asked.

Jeff bobbed his chin. "One bullet's in the firing chamber, seven more in the magazine; it's a semi-automatic."

After I handed Jeff the gun, he returned it to his bureau's drawer while I sipped from my drink, feeling woozier by the minute. Jeff sat next to me, on the room's double bed. His knee nudged mine, our shoulders touched, and I smelled his coconut-scented sunscreen.

Jeff laid a hand on my thigh. Then he squeezed. "You don't mind, do you?"

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About the Author:

Jere' M. Fishback is a former news editor and trial lawyer. He writes Young Adult novels, short fiction, and memoirs. A Florida native, he lives on a barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, west of Tampa/St. Petersburg. When he's not writing, Jere' enjoys cycling, surfing, lap-swimming, and watching sunsets with a glass of wine in hand.

https://www.jeremfishback.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2920032.Jere_M_Fishback

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