Dreamspinner Press discussion

Meet Lou Sylvre, author of the new book "Because of Jade" this Saturday, May 31st from 2:30-5:30pm Eastern/11:30am-2:30pm Pacific right here!

Yay! I don't know how much I'll be able to attend (have to go to a funeral), but I'll try to pop in later and will certainly catch up! Can't wait to hear about the story...

Can't wait! Gotta figure out what time I need to be here CST

Koozebane wrote: "Yay! I don't know how much I'll be able to attend (have to go to a funeral), but I'll try to pop in later and will certainly catch up! Can't wait to hear about the story..."

Thanks! I'll hope to see you later, then!

Nickie wrote: "Can't wait! Gotta figure out what time I need to be here CST"

That's 1:30 PM, Nickie! Yay! I'm glad you're coming!

I'm going to do my best to be here for it.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about Because of Jade and also when you're going to be giving us more on the agent and the younger boy - can't remember their names.

Is it here or somewhere else?

Nickie wrote: "Is it here or somewhere else?"

I'm sincerely hoping it's here.

Question: Have Luki & Sonny stopped talking in your head after you finished BoJ? Will this be the HEA or the HFN?

Hi, I just lost my beautiful opening comment. I'll be right back! I promise! I'll stay late to make up the time!

Hi again! Lou Sylvre here, here to chat about Because of Jade, my latest release in the Vasquez and James series. I'll be back in a hot minute to talk about books you can win or otherwise get for free, chat with you about all sorts of stuff, and answer any questions. I'll have excerpts too, so forgive me for the late start, and stick around or check back in. Looking forward to chatting!

Yay! I was hoping I wouldn't miss this!

Glad you made it Lou!

In a while, a giveaway just for this event, and a free-book-for-honest-review exchange opportunity. But first, I have an ongoing rafflecopter. Here's the link:a Rafflecopter giveaway

First prize is an ebook of Because of Jade and an exclusive ebook I'll be making, compliling lots of Vasquez-James blog posts over the last few years. Includes character interviews, road trip stops, Further Adventure mini-fics, Gay Romance University, and whatever else. The only way to get it is to win it. Second prize winner gets that too, but with an ebook of any earlier V&J book. 4 ways to enter, total of 8 possible entry points. It's on through June 2, but you can go now if you like!

Jen wrote: "Yay! I was hoping I wouldn't miss this!"

Hi Jen! Nice to see you!

Nickie wrote: "Glad you made it Lou!"

Thanks, Nickie--seemed touch and go for a moment.

Hello! I'll stick around as long as I can before work!

Hi, Juliana!

Nice nice prizes for the rafflecopter. :-)

I'm trying to finish uploading a video--me reading an excerpt from Because of Jade, but so far, too slow. So for right now, how about I ask if there's anything in particular any of you might want to know--about Vasquez and James, me :), writing stuff, whatever?

How did you get started in writing?

Which is your favorite V&J book?

Question: Have Luki & Sonny stopped talking in your head after you finished BoJ? Will this be the HEA or the HFN?

Lou wrote: "I'm trying to finish uploading a video--me reading an excerpt from Because of Jade, but so far, too slow. So for right now, how about I ask if there's anything in particular any of you might want t..."

The agent and the young guy (I'm horrible with names). They never got going as a couple but were drawn to each other. Will we see them again?

Jen wrote: "How did you get started in writing?"

Weeeelll, Jen. When I was 7 I wrote a song called "The Yellow Rose of Texas." No really. Then I stopped writing for a while. Did the things kids often do in my early teens--bad poetry, etc. But I had a teacher, Mrs. Horne, in 8th grade who like the sci-fi story I wrote for class and encouraged me. That made no difference then, but later, the more I read, the more I wanted to write. In my thirties I started writing stories again, and then in my forties decided to try for publication. Had some short stories published, and one novel (under a different name). But in that novel, Luki and Sonny were born--or their ancestors maybe. They evolved and bugged me until I found their story. I never wrote fan-fic, or anything like that, but otherwise it's a fairly average story. Thank you for asking!

Jen wrote: "Nice nice prizes for the rafflecopter. :-)"

Thanks, Jen!

Everyone had their own way of making it to writing. I find it fascinating to see how it went for others. Thank you for sharing.

Made it! Interesting about the sci-fi...was that a passing thing, or do you think it will return somehow?

Andrea wrote: "Lou wrote: "I'm trying to finish uploading a video--me reading an excerpt from Because of Jade, but so far, too slow. So for right now, how about I ask if there's anything in particular any of you ..."

Hey, Andrea! That's Brian (the agent) and Jackie (Luki's nephew). And yes, they are next in line. In fact I'm supposed to get their book into the publisher soon, and then I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a few days. Here, in fact is a very brief little (early draft) excerpt. Note that because Jackie was so young and everything he had gone through, it was very important to me to put some years between Finding Jackie and this book, and also give Jackie a chance to heal--especially since kink is part of--but not only--what they have in common.
*
Present Day, Olympic Peninsula, Washington State

Brian had stopped in Port Clifton for a couple of gifts for his hosts: a huge bouquet of red and white lilies accented with ferns, salal, and baby’s breath; a six pack of Full Sail Amber Ale; a bottle of 2009 La Lagune, Haut-Médoc—a fine cabernet from France, the merchant said—and Batdorf and Bronson’s Sulawesi Toraja coffee, which the label promised to be earthy and sweet with hints of pineapple and black pepper. He hadn’t planned on so much, but he hadn’t been able to decide if Sonny would love the rich colors of the flowers more, or his favorite ale, or if Luki would get more pleasure out of the fine French wine or a special coffee. He knew it could be seen as an embarrassment of riches, so to speak, but he hoped his friends would understand.

As he approached the door, he faced the more immediate problem of how to knock while juggling it all, but he needn’t have worried. Sonny must have seen him stumbling from his car, and he swung the door wide just as he arrived.

“Come in,” he said, and calmly unburdened him, laying the presents carefully aside so he could wrap his long arms around Brian in an enthusiastic hug, which he obviously considered a proper greeting. He let go and backed away a step, “Good to see you!”

The wonderful thing about Sonny, Brian thought, was that he never would have said such a thing if he didn’t really mean it. Brian’s own smile grew, and he nodded. “You too,” he said. “I brought you flowers and beer.”

“Thank you!” Sonny laughed. “Such wisdom in one so young.”

“And coffee and wine for Luki,” Brian added, having no idea what else to say or why he was stating the obvious.

Luki strode up just then, apron clad, and chestnut curls—sprinkled now with silver, Brian noticed—in disarray. “Perfect,” he said. “What Sonny said—wisdom!”

Luki’s face seemed so familiar yet transformed somehow. He didn’t grin, but he smiled a little, and joy fairly danced in the pale eyes that most often used to seem so cold. Brian knew Luki had survived a nearly fatal bout with lung cancer—in remission less than a year—and he thought maybe that had given him some gift of contentment. But after Luki thanked him and gave him a quick hug, Brian saw his gaze settle on Sonny, and he recognized that the true source of Luki’s joy was his husband, and the love that had deepened through the years they’d spent together.

Distracted by the familiar wave of envy he always felt in the presence of this couple, wishing he could somehow express it, Brian missed much of what Sonny said as he followed them to the kitchen. He tried to marshal his attention back to the present, and caught Sonny saying he didn’t think he’d ever seen lilies so red. Brian nodded, and murmured agreement, but then he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
He turned toward the motion, and there he stood: Jackie Vasquez. All grown up, and apparently fresh from a shower. December sun poured through a window at his left, and it lit the red in his hair, making it smolder despite being darkened with damp. Brian hadn’t noticed before that Jackie’s grey eyes were like a warmer version of Luki’s blue, very pale and similar in size and shape. Perhaps it was a trait traceable to Luki’s father—Jackie’s grandfather. But there the similarity stopped. While Luki’s pale eyes shone in contrast to his brown skin, Jackie’s somehow harmonized with his general pale, dark-haired, dark-freckled coloring—though the effect seemed to Brian no less singular.

After a few seconds, Brian realized that while he had been standing analyzing the evidence of a common gene pool between the two remarkable looking men, Jackie had actually been speaking to him.

“Jackie,” Brian said, then thought to add, “Um, it’s good to see you again.”

“You seem surprised.” Jackie absentmindedly scratched at the center of his chest, which was bare and still damp, and where fine russet hairs formed a diamond between healthy, smooth pecs that clearly belonged to a man. Nothing boyish remained in Jackie’s physique though he still had what might be called a boyish smile, or youthful, at least.

“Yes,” Brian nodded. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I had no idea you would be here.”
Luki spoke up. “We didn’t expect him to be here,

Brian, or I would probably have mentioned it on the phone. He was supposed to fly out yesterday.”

“I got bumped,” Jackie explained, and shook his head, apparently unhappy with the airline. “So the uncles agreed to put up with me for another day, and Sonny said he’d drive me to the airport tonight.”

Brian felt a little tongue-tied, which wasn’t a familiar feeling at all. He nodded.

Jackie squinted and cocked his head to the side. “I mean it, though, Brian. I’m glad to have a chance to talk to you. I... I don’t remember things clearly from... but I know you did a lot, and I’ve always wanted to thank you in person.”

That shook Brian’s tongue loose, and he said, “Jackie, there is nothing at all for you to thank me for. I’m glad I was there and was some help. I’m grateful you came though okay.”

Brian saw color rise in the pale skin between the freckles of Jackie’s cheeks. Jackie bit his bottom lip—very reminiscent of his Uncle Luki—and then looked away. He glanced back, said, “Well, I’d better put clothes on... I mean, a shirt. You know.”

Brian heard Sonny giggling. A delightful and always unexpected sound.

“Hurry up, Jackie,” Luki said. “Food’s on the table.”

Nickie wrote: "Question: Have Luki & Sonny stopped talking in your head after you finished BoJ? Will this be the HEA or the HFN?"

Luki and Sonny will apparently never stop talking in my head, Nickie! I'm currently writing "Further Adventrues" mini-fics, and you can see from the post about Jackie and Brian's book (A Shot of J and B) that they're worming their way into the spinoffs. :)

Juliana wrote: "Which is your favorite V&J book?"

I probably shouldn't have a favorite, Juliana--it's like having a favorite grandchild. But, I do. It's Because of Jade. The reason is I got to grow Luki and Sonny so much for that book, and Jade is a whole new foil for them. I think it's a beautiful story, and I can say it because really I think it's my characters that made it, not me. :) Also, I took the opportunity to write them their most romantic story ever for their tenth wedding anniversary. They appreciated that, too!

Lou wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Lou wrote: "I'm trying to finish uploading a video--me reading an excerpt from Because of Jade, but so far, too slow. So for right now, how about I ask if there's anything in particu..."

Absolutely love this!

Nickie wrote: "Question: Have Luki & Sonny stopped talking in your head after you finished BoJ? Will this be the HEA or the HFN?"

I forgot to say, Because of Jade is definitely their HEA!

Koozebane wrote: "Made it! Interesting about the sci-fi...was that a passing thing, or do you think it will return somehow?"

I love sci-fi. I've written some things that border on it, but I also do have a couple of sci-fi-ish things in the works. Oh, to be able to write faster, more, better! But someday...!

Jen wrote: "Everyone had their own way of making it to writing. I find it fascinating to see how it went for others. Thank you for sharing."

My pleasure, Juen!

I mean, Jen, not Juen. Fingers. Can't live with 'em, can't live without em!

Lou
You did it to me again. I have *got* to stop reading advance excerpts! Lol

so how did you start writing?

Lou wrote: "I mean, Jen, not Juen. Fingers. Can't live with 'em, can't live without em!"

I knew who you meant. I'm lucky that spell correct on my phone isn't making more of mess of things. :-)

Okay, still no video. How about a regular excerpt. I'm just going to post the first part of this and link to where you can read the rest, as it's pretty NSFW. :) I hesitate to post it on Goodreads chat, as I don't know the limits.

Sonny [...] stood close behind Luki as they check in—close enough to feel his heat and the occasional bump of his hard-muscled round ass. No elevators in this old building, which reminded Sonny of an old bordello such as might have been featured in a western movie. They took the stairs, three flights.

Before they started up, Luki stood aside and signaled with a tilt of his head that Sonny should go first. Sonny looked a question at him, so Luki leaned in, put his full lips right up next to Sonny's ear, and said, "Because I want to watch your ass."

The whole excerpt here

Better late than never? I've had a very stressful day. But I'm here now.

Lou wrote: "Okay, still no video. How about a regular excerpt. I'm just going to post the first part of this and link to where you can read the rest, as it's pretty NSFW. :) I hesitate to post it on Goodreads ..."

Lou wrote: "Okay, still no video. How about a regular excerpt. I'm just going to post the first part of this and link to where you can read the rest, as it's pretty NSFW. :) I hesitate to post it on Goodreads ..."

Wow! That is hot. I think I really need to read this series. It's on my wishlist, but I think I need to buy sooner rather later now.

And the chat-event-only giveaway! An ebook of Because of Jade, first prize. An ebook of an earlier Vasquez and James second prize.

Here's what you do to enter: join my new goodreads discussion: Lou Sylvre: Just news and stuff, and leave a comment on either topic. I'd love to see your favorite book covers (not just my books, all books), and I'd love topic suggestions. I'm thinking of starting one for not-book-related art and images, and finding out if I can make that NSFW without having the whole discussion be limited. Any thoughts or ideas are great. Here's the link: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

I need your help, too! Earlier I posted (as part of an answer to a question), a little excerpt from A Shot of J and B, my WIP about Jackie and Brian. I feel they need a pet. One that can be comfortable in a London apartment. Suggestions? Pictures welcome!

Lou wrote: "And the chat-event-only giveaway! An ebook of Because of Jade, first prize. An ebook of an earlier Vasquez and James second prize.

Here's what you do to enter: join my new goodreads discussion: Lo..."


Very cool. I'm off to comment. :-)

Lena wrote: "Better late than never? I've had a very stressful day. But I'm here now."

Oh, Lena! Hi. I'm glad you made it. You're going to have to let me know what happened, maybe in a PM? I just posted a question about pets--you'd be a good person to help with that. (I'm very sorry your day's been rough so far!)

Nickie wrote: "Lou
You did it to me again. I have *got* to stop reading advance excerpts! Lol"

Oh! Sorry. I should put a Nickie warning label on them! he-he.

Jen wrote: "Lou wrote: "And the chat-event-only giveaway! An ebook of Because of Jade, first prize. An ebook of an earlier Vasquez and James second prize.

Here's what you do to enter: join my new goodreads di..."

Excellent!

Which book of yours is your current favorite? What are you reading now?