I have turned my blog over to the capable hands of Lee Brazil……
Why’d You Do That?
On August 5th my first m/f book was released by Breathless Press. (pause) Oh- And Happy Anniversary month to Breathless Press! They’re embarking on their third year in the business, and since I’m seeing their titles all over the best seller lists at various e-vendors… it’s looking to be a great year.
Anyway— rewind – Friday August 5th, my first m/f book, Giving Up, was released by BP. It is the third book in a planned series of six. One day it’ll have middle child syndrome, but right now, it’s my youngest child, thrust out vulnerable and unprepared into the world. And… it’s different.
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| Book 1 |
I’m a third child as well. Two older siblings and a whole herd of younger ones. And I, too, was different than my older siblings. All my life I walked into classrooms where teachers held up the yardstick of my vivacious, active eldest sibling and said- “Hmmm… you’re a quiet one, aren’t you?” Or they remembered my second sibling, and said, “You’re a bit of a dreamer, aren’t you? Not at all the helpful and eager student your sibling is.” They were good with numbers and science. I was not. I excelled in languages and history, anything that I could read and understand. I cannot tell you how many practical and well meaning guidance counselors pointed out the value of taking calculus instead of French 4, Physics II instead of sociology.
Relatives noticed the differences. Family friends pointed it out. “Lee is so quiet. Why doesn’t Lee do this, or that?” They shook their heads, I buried my nose in another book and tried to block out the words. They didn’t really mean I wasn’t good enough. They just couldn’t believe I was happy enough with my music and my books and my few good friends. Who needs baseball and football? I had band practice and Steinbeck, and a friend with a fake id. What else does a high school kid with pretentions to literary greatness need?
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| Book 2 |
Well, twenty something years later, I have an answer to that. You need to understand your audience. I didn’t consider the audience when I wrote Brandon’s story. Truth or Dare has been more successful than I dreamed. The first two books however, were m/m, and that unintentionally created an expectation among readers that the whole series would be m/m. It’s not. Primarily it will be, but I wanted the series to showcase family in a variety of non-traditional forms. So the first book is m/m, with a wide age gap. The second is m/m/m with twincest. Both of those stories end with children being included in the family. Then there’s the third book.
It’s m/f.
Can’t tell you how many emails and pm’s I’ve received wanting to know why I did that. They want to know why Brandon’s life partner isn’t a man.
I knew some people wouldn’t buy book 1 because it was m/m and some people just don’t read that sort of thing.
That’s cool.
I knew some people wouldn’t buy book 2 because it’s twincest, and some people just don’t read that sort of thing.
That’s cool.
Before Giving Up released I started picking up vibes from all over the social media.
Is that a woman on the cover of your new book?
Is that m/f?
What the ?
I started getting worried about poor Brandon. My baby was heading out into a hostile environment.
It seems some people won’t buy book 3 because its m/f, and some people just don’t read that sort of thing.
That’s cool.
Brandon’s story does him justice in my opinion. It illustrates a concept of family that is unusual and nontraditional in some ways, if not in the gender pairing.
Take a look, and see what you think!
Giving Up
Truth or Dare #3
Avialable from
Breathless Press
Can Dr. Arden Grey teach Brandon Blake that giving up control is worth while, with the right woman?
Brandon Blake has a problem. His family is fed up with his controlling ways. They don’t need him managing their affairs any more. Brandon doesn’t want to lose his connection with his brothers, but he doesn’t know any other way to live. He’s been in charge for a long time. Now his brothers are leaving home and making families of their own, and Brandon’s interference has caused some serious rifts. Brandon’s’ stressful job as CEO of the family production studio and his concerns for his brothers have contributed to the ulcer his doctor recently diagnosed. Therapy is supposed to help Brandon learn how to let go and give up the need to control every thing. Brandon finds the counselor he’s been sent to intriguing, if a bit intimidating, though she has absolutely nothing in common with the women he’s dated in the past.
Dr. Arden Gray knows about control. A survivor of marriage to a dominant, abusive partner, she’s spent the last twenty years turning her life around. She’s learned to take control and has made a career of teaching others to do the same. Brandon Blake is a surprise. When his doctor sends Brandon to her, Arden isn’t sure how she can help the man. But after a few sessions, she sees something intriguing hidden inside Brandon Blake, something that tells her he just might be the man she’s been looking for. If only she can convince him that giving up control to the right woman will solve all his problems!
Thanks for having me on!
CONGRATS ON YOUR FIRST RELEASE LEE! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT!
lindarb49@hotmail.com
awesome post! i will def have to look into Lee's work
I have read M/M and variations thereof but not twincest yet. Hm….