The Tarnished Series and Brita Addams

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Brita Addams, who is quite possibly one of the sweetest women I know. She’s going to be talking about her fabulous Tarnished Series. So, sit back, grab your favorite alcoholic beverage, and let’s welcome the lovely Brita!

Hi Jacob,

Thank you so much for having me over to visit. You know how much I love you, and there’s no greater compliment than inviting someone to your home.

I love you too, Brita. You know you’re welcome here any time!

I have a giveaway set up for the tour, and I’d like to share the info with your readers.

presentThere will be two winners per blog stop. One random commenter will win an ebook copy of Tarnished Gold or For Men Like Us. Another commenter will win a swag pack, with signed bookmarks, and a couple other goodies. Winners chosen on November 27.

And now, more info on the Tarnished Series

With the release of Tarnished Souls: Frankie and Gent, I’m often asked what’s next in the series. The simple answer is lots, while the real answer is more involved.

The Golden Age of Hollywood spanned from 1927 or the end of the silent era, noted in history by the production of Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer, to 1963, also known as classic Hollywood, when the tone of movies was quite different than it is today. For people like me, those years signify a time when stars were really stars, they lived that role in public, and often, in private. The glitz and glamor was real, and stars cared what the public thought.

In 1930, Will Hays founded the Hays or Production Code, which followed strict censorship guidelines. Do you remember the old movies and sitcoms where married couples slept in twin beds? That was one of many mandates of the Production Code, and lasted until about 1968.

My favorite period begins in the 1920s, and extends through the 1950s, and I see the vast difference in films through the ‘60s and to the present day.

With so many juicy things that happened in old Hollywood, the book fodder is rich. Of course, I’ve done the story about an actor, in Tarnished Gold. In Tarnished Souls Volume 1, we have the story of a mobster who is in control of the extra’s union, and while I don’t focus on the union, the reader will get a sense of the mob’s involvement.

The next book, Tarnished Souls Volume 2, will explore the life of a cop and a newspaper reporter in Hollywood. My original intent, when I started a book called Tarnished Soul, was to tell the story of a cop hired as a fixer. I scrapped that idea when Frankie Monetti came on the scene. Instead, I found a story about the hold the mob had over the entertainment industry.

My intent for the Tarnished series is to write about the following:

  1. The fixers – those people hired by the studios to cover up for the actors, producers, directors, and others, who got themselves in trouble with the law in the court of public opinion. Mac may well be the star of this story, while Gray may star in Tarnished Heart. We’ll see.
  2. The agents, who pushed their clients before studio heads.
  3. Tarnished Heart – Gossip columnists – these people made and broke careers by writing in favor of or against actors.
  4. The casting couch – an interesting phenomena where sexual harassment was alive and well.
  5. Directors – little, or not so little dictators.
  6. Extras – what film could be made without them?

And there may be more, as my research progresses.

I suspect these stories will be a combination of novellas and novels. I won’t know that until I’m into each story. With Tarnished Gold, I wrote the story as it unfolded. With Tarnished Souls, I intended to create a novella, and the second Tarnished Souls volume will be a novella as well. Perhaps Dreamspinner will combine the two, into a 60k novel.

I won’t rush any of stories. I anticipate writing a novel and a novella per year, and if more comes into being, I’ll consider the year productive. Look for Tarnished Souls 2 and Tarnished Heart (a novel) in 2014. I’m working on TS2 now, and I can’t wait write TH. I’m fascinated by the grip gossip columnists had on the movie industry.

I hope my readers enjoy this series as much as I do writing it. The deeper I get into the research the more I realize how much I miss those mornings, long ago, when I sat in front of my parents’ B&W television set and watched those old movies. I fell in love with Boston Blackie and Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. To this day, that hasn’t changed.

 

Here’s the blurb for Tarnished Souls: Frankie and Gent:

TarnishedSoulsFS [600x900]Hollywood’s Golden Age is not all glitz and glamour. Mob boss Frankie Monetti controls the unions and the studios, which makes him and the syndicate very rich. But after five years, Frankie runs afoul of the law and those who put him in power.

Primo hit man, and Frankie’s lifelong friend, Arvin “Gent” Vitali, goes west with orders to clean up the mess and then bring Frankie back to New York to answer for his double cross. But as the noose closes tighter around Frankie’s neck, Gent questions where his loyalty truly lies. Is business just business or is freedom worth the risk? 

Purchase Tarnished Souls: Frankie and Gent

Here’s the blurb for Tarnished Gold:

TarnishedGoldLGIn 1915, starstruck Jack Abadie strikes out for the gilded streets of the most sinful town in the country—Hollywood. With him, he takes a secret that his country hometown would never understand.

After years of hard work and a chance invitation to a gay gentlemen’s club, Jack is discovered. Soon, his talent, matinee idol good looks, and affable personality propel him to the height of stardom. But fame breeds distrust.

Meeting Wyatt Maitland turns Jack’s life upside down. He wants to be worthy of his good fortune, but old demons haunt him. Only through Wyatt’s strength can Jack face that which keeps him from being the man he wants to be. Love without trust is empty.

As the 1920s roar, scandals rock the movie industry. Public tolerance of Hollywood’s decadence has reached its limit. Under pressure to clean up its act, Jack’s studio issues an ultimatum. Either forsake the man he loves and remain a box office darling, or follow his heart and let his shining star fade to tarnished gold.

Purchase Tarnished Gold from Dreamspinner Press

Schedule for Tarnished Souls: Frankie and Gent Blog Tour

November 14 –The Rainbow Studio

November 18 – Dreamspinner Press Blog

November 18 –Brita Addams

November 19 –Sid Love

November 20 –Joyfully Jay

November 21 –You Gotta Read

November 25 –Jacob Flores

November 26 –The Novel Approach

December 3 – J.P. Barnaby

December 4 – Lynley Wayne

December 5 –Michael Ruptured

 About Brita Addams:

Brita logoBorn in a small town in Upstate New York, Brita Addams has made her home in the sultry south for many years. In the Frog Capital of the World, Brita shares her home with her real-life hero—her husband, and a fat cat named Stormee. All their children are grown.

Given her love of history, Brita writes both het and gay historical romance. Many of her historicals, as well as few contemporaries, have appeared on category bestseller lists at various online retailers.

Tarnished Gold, the first in her Tarnished series for Dreamspinner, received honorable mention, and is a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, historical romance category.

Brita and her husband love to travel. They’ve taken no less than twenty-five cruises and countless long car trips, as well as completed a Civil War battlefield tour, and visits to many sites involved in the American Revolutionary War. Their 2013 anniversary tour of England, Scotland, and Wales gave Brita fodder for many new tales.

On a trip to Hollywood, California, Brita stood in the footprints of some of her favorite actors—Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, Tyrone Power, and many others, at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and has even kissed Mickey Rooney.

A bit of trivia—Brita pronounces her name, Bree-ta, and not Brit-a, like the famous water filter. Brita Addams is a mash-up of her real middle name and her husband’s middle name, with an additional d and s.

Readers can find Brita Addams at any of the following places:

Website

Blog

Twitter: @britaaddams

Facebook

Fan page

Goodreads

Pinterest

Booklikes

Monthly column at The Novel Approach

 

 

Chasing the Sun Blog Tour: Stop #13–Michael Rupured

It’s hard to believe, but today is the final stop on my Chasing the Sun blog tour. I’m over at fellow author, Michael Rupured’s blog where I share an excerpt. Since this is the last stop on my tour that means the giveaway is about to end. Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered to win a free copy of Chasing the Sun.

 

Welcome to A.E. Via

A.E. Via is here on my blog today, where she will be talking about her latest release Blue Moon: Too Good to Be True. She’s even provided an excerpt and there will be a giveaway. How awesome!

Blue Moon Cover_453x680

SYNOPSIS

Angel DeLucca is one of the most sought after gay bachelors in Virginia Beach. He’s smart successful, lethal, and more than anything he’s drop dead gorgeous. Angel has his pick of the men that come to his popular Oceanfront night club, but lately the one night stands haven’t been enough…Angel craves something deeper. When a one night hook-up goes terribly wrong, Angel comes into contact with the breathtaking Maximus (Max) Strong.

Max is a firefighter for the Virginia Beach Fire Department. Max is beautiful, charming, and also very straight. One meeting with the mysteriously, sexy Angel DeLucca and a whiff of that silky, jet black hair, Max finds himself questioning everything he’s known to be true about himself. Max tries desperately to understand the new feelings he has for another man and turns to his gay, older brother…Ryker.

Ryker has always been Max’s protector and his guide their entire lives, which has left him feeling uncared for and alone to handle his own life’s problems. Ryker craves to be taken care of, he craves the attention and praise of a Master. No one knows the dark desires within him until Angel’s Chief of Security, Sebastian ‘Bass’ Bagatelli, shatters that secret with their first intense encounter.

How will Angel win the heart of the straight firefighter that was tailor-made just for him? Will Max be able to continue denying his feelings for another man? Can Ryker and Bass get through their personal issues to take and receive what they both need from each other? Or will they each give up on a happiness that appears too good to be true?

These men’s stories will unravel in a whirlwind of romance, bdsm, revelations, lots of action and very hot sex, co-starring very entertaining supporting characters.

Word Count: 89,513

Heat Level: SCORCHING HOT!

 

AUTHOR BIO..

A.E. Via graduated in May of 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Virginia Wesleyan College.

She’s a new author to the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, A.E. runs a very successful paralegal-for-hire business and in her spare time, she devotes herself to her family – a husband and four children – her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late great gay romance author ELynn Harris.

While Blue Moon is her first novel, she has plenty more to come…so sit back and grab a cool drink, because the male on male action is just heating up!

My Links to all my social media pages and blogs can be found on my website which is updated daily; it seems that I register daily for a new literary club. http://www.authoraevia.com

 

Blue Moon Too Good to Be True – Excerpt from Chapter Nine

Max seemed very comfortable at dinner and Angel’s stomach was finally relaxed. He was no longer concerned about Max being skeptical about being on a date with a man. He even held Angel’s hand while the waitress took their order, and stole little feels under the table. Angel was not oblivious to the eyes that tracked his man as they walked through the large restaurant. Max didn’t realize how strikingly handsome he was. Decked out head-to-toe in Gucci damn near made Max edible.

After dinner was over Max suggested they walk along the boardwalk for a while. Angel always enjoyed walking on the beach, but he’d never had anyone to do it with. When they got to the boardwalk Max put his hand in Angel’s and they began to walk. All these people around and he’s not the least bit uncomfortable. Angel walked with his man in silence, both content with breathing in the salty air and listening to the waves crash against the surface.

After fifteen blocks they realized they were completely alone, no one else venturing down this far. The few businesses on this end were already closed for the evening, giving them some privacy. Max turned and leaned against the railing, pulling Angel against him. I wish I knew what he was thinking when he looked at me like that, Angel thought.

Then Max was kissing him passionately, holding him tight against his strong chest. This kiss was unlike the others. This kiss was making promises to Angel, promising him forever. Angel felt the overwhelming urge to be claimed by this magnificent man in the most primal, animalistic way. I need him now, I can’t wait any longer, I have to have him inside of me.

“Your hair is so beautiful, Angel, I think it’s becoming my weakness,” Max said into Angel’s neck. “It reminds me of Antonio Banderas in the movie Interview with a Vampire.”

Angel chuckled. Now that’s new. “Oh really. Did you find him sexy, baby?” Angel looked into Max’s eyes. He already considered this man his.

“No…I find you hot…only you,” he confessed.

“Come back with me to my house, Max. You have no idea what I want…no…what I need to do to you right now.” Angel didn’t care if he was begging again, he would beg this man forever. The raw edge of his voice betrayed his composure. He had none when it came to Max. It frightened him and thrilled him simultaneously. What if he doesn’t think he can actually bring himself to fuck another man? What if we can only take this relationship so far…fuck.

Yes, I would love to spend the night with you.” Max cut off Angel’s last thought.

 

Author’s Comments

This is definitely one of my favorite excerpts from the book.  I’ve read hundreds of gay romance novels from SciFi to Western. I’m always astonished on when and how the men show their affection, express their feelings, and display their wants. My favorite character Angel is as alpha male as they come. His hair may be long and luxurious but he’s far from feminine…you’ll see that in the fight scenes.

In this piece Angel is recognizing that what he’s been wanting and looking for for so long is right there in front of him…he’s not going to let male bravado stall his needs.  He tells Maximus: “You have no idea what I want…no…what I need to do to you right now.”

I have been a fan of insta-love for many years. I like to see the characters relationship grow of the course of the novel…not wait for a MC to drop the machismo swag…then fall in love in chapter thirty. Men aren’t afraid to love fast and love hard…at least my men aren’t.

I hope you have enjoyed or will enjoy Blue Moon because although there is love (not annoyingly mushy) there is plenty of intriguing twist, a little domination and submission, and packed with kick ass action scenes.

I’d love to hear what you think.

p.s. Just in case you’re wondering…no…all my books will not be insta-love…I do like a little angst and sexual tension too. *smiling*

Happy Reading,

A.E.

A.E. Via Blue Moon Blog Tour

11/17/2013 Books, Books and More Books

11/18/2013 Coffee Time

11/19/2013 JP Barnaby

11/19/2013 Literary Nymphs

11/20/2013 Jacob Z. Flores

11/20/2013 Dawn’s Reading Nook

11/25/2013 Babbling About Books

11/26/2013 Guys Like Romance Too

11/27/2013 Lynley Wayne

11/29/2013 We Love Kink

12/2/2013 Mrs Condit Reads

12/3/2013 Top2Bottom

12/3/2013 Sid Love

12/4/2013 The Novel Approach

12/12/2013 Michael Rupured

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Or click here to enter the giveaway

 

Chasing the Sun Blog Tour: Stop #12–Fallen Angel Reviews

The Chasing the Sun blog tour soars  into the hunky skies over at Fallen Angel Reviews today and let me tell you, those loincloths the angels wore looked fantastic! Who doesn’t love a heavenly creature? Not anyone I know, that’s for sure!

When I wasn’t ogling the angels or trying to look up their loincloths, I managed to answer a few questions. I talk about the personal inspiration for the story and also share my favorite scene from the novella.

If you’d like to read the interview, click here and a rainbow will descend from on high. Just climb aboard and you’ll be taken on over to Fallen Angel Reviews.

Chasing the Sun Blog Tour: Stop #11–J.P. Barnaby

I’m over at the fabulous J.P. Barnaby’s today for the next stop on my Chasing the Sun blog tour and what a stop it is! I just love J.P. to pieces, and why wouldn’t I? She’s such a beautiful person and friend and a fantastic author. Really, who doesn’t love her?

So what did I blog about over at J.P.’s sexy side of the Internet? Well, I offered my top 5 tips for writing a better sex scene, and let me tell you, I hold nothing back. So if you’re interested in writing a better sex scene or are just wondering what I had to say, click here and one of J.P.’s adult industry cuties will magically appear and whisk you over to her site.

Don’t forget about the giveaway. Just leave a comment and you’re entered to win a free copy of Chasing the Sun. If you want to increase your chances, then leave a comment at all the other stops on my tour.

I hope to see you all over at J.P.’s. I’ll be the one talking to her sexy cuties!

Chasing the Sun Blog Tour: Stop #10–Dawn’s Reading Nook

The Chasing the Sun blog tour continues today over at Dawn’s Reading Nook. Dawn and I sat down for an interview, where we discussed future projects, what author I’d love to write a book with, and what character from the P-town series was never meant to be a main character.

If you’re interested in reading the interview, then click here and magical creatures from Narnia will exit your closet and lead you over to Dawn’s nook. Pretty awesome, huh?

Also, the giveaway is still going strong. If you leave a comment, you’re entered to win a free copy of Chasing the Sun. If you leave comments at all my other stops, you increase your chances of winning.

I hope to see you there!

Chasing the Sun Blog Tour: Stop #9–Mama Kitty Reviews

The Chasing the Sun blog tour continues over at Mama Kitty Reviews. Mama Kitty herself was kind enough to sit down with me for an interview, where we discussed authors who have inspired me, what message I want readers to take away from reading my book, and other fun stuff like Channing Tatum. YUM!

If you’d like to read the interview, click here and a pack of kitties will appear to lead you over to their mama. If you leave a comment, you are entered to win a free copy of Chasing the Sun, and if you leave a comment at all my other stops, you increase your chances of winning. Cool, right?

I hope to see you all over there!