GRL...It's Finally Here!

     Hi everyone, sorry I’m a few days late on the blog, but I've recently had the misfortune of suffering autumn allergies for the first time that I can remember. It’s been rather uncomfortable and the medicine that I’m allowed to take makes me woozy as all get out. So…I’m going to suffer through until I get this done, and then medicate! 

     First things first: I want to thank everyone who has made My Hero such a success. I've really been reeling from it all. The first day I couldn't even speak. Just ask K.c. Wells! 

     So here we are, only a few short days until GayLitRom (GRL) begins. This will be my first time attending. I was lucky enough to register as a reader back in March before it sold out. I was looking forward to meeting some awesome authors and blending into the background. The unknown. I mean, who would be interested in me? I've already been told that isn't going to happen. 

     Okay, now I’m freaking out. I've never been one to be in the spotlight. I've always been more of the behind-the-scenes type of guy. When I was cooking, I was always in the kitchen, no one ever really saw me except other staff. I've always been somewhat of a recluse. Why? Well…for one thing I tend to say what is on my mind, and sometimes that isn't such a good idea. Foot-in-mouth disease is what I've often called it. So, suddenly becoming a best-selling author is not what I was expecting, nor what I’m at all comfortable with. My hope is that people won’t notice and pass me by for some of the better known, more established authors. That’s my hope, at any rate. 


     When I first started thinking about GRL and some of my friends who were going to be attending, I wanted to do something special. Kinda like a welcome to HOTlanta, so to speak. So I arranged a little party at one of my favorite night spots. Of course the reason I first went there was that it was the closest gay bar to home. When I go, it is usually very early in the evening. Rarely is it crowded. They mix a good drink AND they serve it in a real honest to God glass. OH, I guess this would be where I tell you that it is an all male, all nude strip club. LOL 

     Anyway, I arranged for a special party there. The manager and I have become friends as well as one of the dancers, who is also an aspiring author. Never did I think that it would grow to such proportions. Over seventy people signed up! So many that I had to start looking at transportation, after I found out that the host hotel had no shuttle service. I had to rent a flippin’ bus to get everyone there. Even with a bus it is going to be a very tight squeeze to get everyone in. I’m going to try and get a few pics to share. I’ll post if I can. 

     P.O.W. What can I say? When Kris Jacen told me that they were releasing this at GRL I was thrilled. Now? Now I’m as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. After My Hero, and the success it has had, I’m afraid that this next book might disappoint. This is a very different type of book. It is hard, rough, gritty and very much in your face. One of my beta readers said it was the most realistic war story that they had ever read in this genre. It has warnings plastered all over it. 

     If you like a lot of angst, rough military men, a lot of hot, honest gay sex, then this book is for you. I did a lot of research on this to make sure I got it right, and I think I accomplished this. It is a love story for sure, so I hope my readers will see that in the long run. The one thing I want to point out is that this does happen. We never hear of it, however, and I think that is a shame. These men and women who defend us all, of all nations, deserve support in every way possible. Let’s not let them suffer in silence. 

     On a more positive note…my friend K.c. Wells is going to arrive on Tuesday, and I can’t wait to see her again. I’m gonna squeeze the pee-waddin’ outta her. Then on Wednesday is the Bliss party, which I am soooo looking forward to. 

     I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes next week! 

     Bye y’all! 

     Max ;-)

Just because I can.  :-)

Wow…Just Wow

     What a week this has been. Last Saturday I uploaded ‘My Hero’, my newest release. There were some issues with Amazon, but that finally got sorted out by Monday. 

     I have to say I've truly been blown away by the response to this book. I have to admit, this book drove me nuts. The two main characters just took over and did what they wanted when they wanted, and yes, how they wanted. The average reader must be wondering what the hell I’m talking about, I’m sure. So let me tell you a little about how I work. 

     When I start thinking about a story I always start with the characters. They are the most important thing to a story, after all. I do a worksheet on them, from how they look, to their mannerisms, ethnic background and so forth. By the time I’m done, they are normally talking to me. I used to spend a lot of time on plot lines but finally gave up. I have a general idea of where I want the story to go, but a lot of times that will change during the story. 

     On ‘My Hero’ that went out the window by the second chapter. After that, I just held on for dear life as they did their thing. There was a time when I was very concerned at how much sex these guys were having. The one thing I want to make sure of is that if there is a hot and heavy sex scene, it needs to have something to do with the actual story. Needless to say, I got a little worried that might not be happening. But as I read back through it, I was relieved that indeed they were right. 

     Hold on folks, because there is where I’m gonna ride that escalator up to the very tippy-top of the highest soap box I can find. Attention please…MEN ARE NOT WOMEN. Oh, I can see the eyes rolling from here. Yes, that is what I said. So ladies, listen up.

Yep...not women!

     As little boys we are normally dressed in drab colors by the time we are five. Then we are constantly told to ‘man up’, ‘be a big boy’, ‘men don’t cry’, ‘boys don’t …’, fill in your own verbage here. And sadly, queer, pansy, sissy are often used to ‘correct’ behavior that society deems as ‘unmanly’. If that wasn’t bad enough, now we have commercials on TV that are constantly male bashing. Men aren’t smart, men don’t understand, men only see what is in front of them, men are only interested in sports, their cars and women. Take a look. Watch closely and you’ll see what I’m talking about. This has a real effect on a man’s psyche. Hell, even men’s underwear ads are now directed at women! What’s up with that? 

 SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PART OF THE BOOK, THEN JUMP DOWN TO WHERE IT SAYS ALERT OVER. 

     Why am I bringing all this up? Well I’m about to tell you why. In ‘My Hero’ there is a scene where one of the main characters sleeps with a woman. I know…gasp, right? WRONG. If a young man has always been bombarded with the messages I've mentioned above, and then all of a sudden one of the main things that makes him identify as a man is challenged, his entire self is at stake. Everything you've ever thought about yourself is wiped out, or so it may feel.


     So when this character sleeps with this woman it isn't cheating. He is trying to figure out what and who he is sexually and how he identifies as a man. I know…ladies, you’re not exactly going to get that perhaps, and maybe I’m not conveying this all that well, but men truly do think with their dicks a good portion of the time. I admit it. It is true. So when you are trying to figure out where you want to stick that thing, it’s a very big deal, and has a lot to do with who we are as men. He had to know. Get it? It isn't cheating, only fact-finding. 

SPOILER ALERT OVER.

 AND while I’m on the subject of men and their dicks…men do like sex. It has nothing to do with their hearts sometimes, just sayin’. It’s the pure animalistic act that we tend to enjoy. It can be fun. It can even be funny at times. A lot of times it is just down and dirty. Sweaty, wet, hot, and just downright nasty sex. But isn’t that what some of you ladies like? If so, then don’t try to change the beast. Go with it and enjoy it. Gay men embrace this fact and often times will go where others might not, simply because they have had to look at their own sexuality differently. They have to sit and think about who they are sexually and yes, that does tend to change a man. It’s just who we are. 

     Now that I have out of the way….escalator down…. 

     All the crap that I went through the week before was pretty much erased with the love and support from many of you. Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me. It didn’t help that ‘My Hero’ reached number one on Amazon! I have been so overwhelmed (I’m starting to get tired of this word BTW), I’ve been numb for a good portion of the week. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think this would or could happen to me. Really, I’m just a nobody who sits here and tells stories that wander through my mind. 

     Oh…and one more good thing this week! I was nominated for author of the month for a little short story I did for Ravenous Romance call ‘Commander’. YAY!!! 

     I think that’s about it for this week. Thanks again to all of you for your bountiful support and love. 

     Max ;-)