Joining me on the sofa on this, the scariest day of the year, is the lovely Elizabeth Lister, who is here to help me with the sweets (candy to our friends across the pond) and hot chocolate as we chat about Exposure and her second book, The Crush :) Take it away Elizabeth....I'm just going to sit back and eat..*ahem* listen intently to what you are telling me...*snatches the green starburst from Elizabeth's grasping fingers* away you go...
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*Rubs fingers and contemplates a visit to the ER for sutures (that's stitches to you Brits)* Whattaya know, it's Halloween! I'd like to thank Lisa Worall (LW: 2 'r's love) for letting me guest blog here on this spooky day.
I am a relatively new author. My debut m/m romance, Exposure, was published by MLR Press in June of this year. It received several great reviews. One reviewer said that "
There are portions of this book that qualify as literary orgasms" - http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/?s=Exposure
LW: Oh my God...I love that...literary orgasms....do go on.
My second book, The Crush, was published by MLR Press earlier this month. Here is a short excerpt:
“This is so ridiculous, Amy,” I said, scanning the lobby of the National Arts Centre. “Why am I even here?”
My sister punched me in the arm, none too gently. “Because you owe me, and with you here, this doesn’t seem like a ‘date.’”
I examined the crowd of well-dressed theatre-goers here to see the matinée showing of a local production. The lobby of the NAC was packed, as usual. “Where is Professor Humbert, anyway?”
“Oh my god, Jack, I’m hardly Lolita. I’ve got a few years on her. And his name is Michael Donovan.”
“Whatever,” I grumbled. I would so much rather be at home, writing. I had two articles to get out by Tuesday. It was Sunday, and I had to work at Chapters tomorrow. “Tell me again why I’m wasting my Sunday afternoon chaperoning you and your supposedly ‘hunkilicious’ professor?”
She rolled her eyes and checked the crowd again before answering. “Because he is totally gorgeous and brilliant and hot in a kind of nerdy way, and I really want to sleep with him.”
“Again, why am I here?”
“Because I can’t just ask him out on an actual date!”
“Why not?”
“Well, because of the whole professor/student thing. He might not be comfortable with that.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. “But you think he’ll be comfortable having sex with you?”
“God, Jack, you are so clueless. I don’t know if he will or not, but I’ve got to get to know him and get near him outside of class so I can…” she gave me a knowing look, “you know, seduce him.”
“Ew.”
“Oh, grow up. Oh my God, there he is!” She grabbed my arm in a death grip before waving like crazy at someone across the lobby.
I looked over and saw a man approaching. I noticed his eyes right away, since he was staring at me with a piercing blue gaze that held intelligence, interest and confusion. His blond hair shone under the bright lights of the lobby, revealing shades of honey and straw. A long black wool coat hung from his broad shoulders and a striped scarf completed the look. He was the picture of professorial elegance.
As he got nearer, he smiled. My breath caught in my throat. He looked at me a moment longer then turned to my sister.
I felt dazed and exposed. Holy fuck. What is that about?
“Professor Donovan!” Amy exclaimed in a voice two octaves higher than normal. “I’m so glad you could come.”
With that smile and those blue eyes, I could definitely see why half the class had a crush on him.
“Hi Amy. How are you?” His voice was soft and musical.
“Fine, thanks. And you?”
“Great, thanks.”
I cleared my throat. Amy suddenly remembered I was there.
“Professor Donovan, this is my brother, Jackson.”
“Jack,” I said, correcting her and holding out my hand.
He turned to me, and our eyes locked again. He took my hand. There was a definite “something.” I wondered if he could feel it too.
“Pleased to meet you, Jack. Call me Michael.” His velvety voice did something to my insides. He let go of my hand and turned to Amy. “I’ll just go check my coat.”
He walked over to the coat check while Amy grabbed my arm again. “See! Isn’t he gorgeous?” She was looking at me and I was watching him. He turned as he handed over his coat and our eyes met again. He held my gaze for a moment, then looked away.
“Huh? Yeah, he’s okay,” I said dazedly.
“Oh, come on, Jack. He’s way cuter than any of the guys I’ve seen you with. Too bad he doesn’t play for your team, eh?”
Don’t be so sure, I thought to myself. I was getting some distinct vibes from the good professor and they were going right to my groin. I grinned and put my arm around her. “Okay, so he’s good looking. So are half the guys here.”
She peeked at Michael. He retrieved his chit from the girl at the coat check. “Yeah, well, he’s smart and creative and funny too.”
“Mmm hmm.” I nodded.
“He’s the youngest associate professor at the University,” she said, then added, “He’s brilliant.”
When he returned, I took in his dark blue boot cut jeans and dark brown sweater over a black t-shirt, with hopefully subtle appreciation. I noticed brown leather boots on his large feet. He did seem young for a professor. And gorgeous. My cock hardened in my pants. Great. I’ve got a boner and the play hasn’t started yet. This is gonna be a long afternoon.
“Should we find our seats?” he asked.
Amy nodded. “Of course. Then we can relax and have a chat before it starts.”
We walked up the red velvet steps to the mezzanine level. As we climbed I found myself ogling the Professor’s jean-clad ass and noting that it was pretty amazing. Jesus, what am I doing? I wasn’t even sure he liked guys, and there was the little fact that my sister had a humongous crush on him. That made him off limits to me. Didn’t it?
We found our seats and my sister slid in first. Michael graciously motioned for me to slip in beside her but I shook my head.
“Uh, thanks, but I’d prefer the aisle seat, actually.” I’m pretty sure he gave me a quick, appreciative onceover before moving in beside Amy.
“I finished my essay, Professor.” I heard Amy say as I sat down in my seat. My leg touched his. I felt that tingling again. We both looked at our legs and then at each other, surprised.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, moving my leg slightly away, but he held my gaze with his vivid blue eyes.
“It’s all right. The seats are ridiculously close together.” He smiled. My heart thumped in my chest, and my cock might have twitched as well. It had been so neglected recently, it was a little out of control.
He turned back to my sister. “That’s wonderful. I look forward to reading it.”
“It’s about Shakespeare’s misogynist approach to the female characters in Hamlet, Othello and King Lear.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
Inwardly, I groaned. What a clichéd topic for an essay. My sister fancied herself quite the literary feminist but, honestly, her strengths lay elsewhere. She sang lead in a local band that got quite a bit of attention. I did admire her for going back to school and trying to get a degree, not just giving everything up for the band. Because who really new if they would get anywhere.
“What do you do, Jack?”
Wait, he was speaking to me?
“I, um, do some freelance writing and work at Chapters,” I mumbled, embarrassed. I was far from the literary genius my parents had hoped for.
“Really? What’s your background?”
“I have a BA in English Lit from Ottawa U. I graduated in 2008.”
He nodded. “I just started there in ’09. I would have remembered you.” He blushed, as if he had said too much. “So you’re, what, twenty-four? Twenty-five?”
“I’m twenty-five.” His short blond hair was thick and slightly wavy. I wanted to touch it. But those goddamn eyes... I felt like they knew me inside out already. My poor sister, she wasn’t going to get anywhere with him. I, on the other hand… Wait, what am I thinking? I tore my eyes away from his and stood up, excusing myself to use the washroom. I practically ran up the shallow steps to the mezzanine lobby and burst into the men’s room, which, mercifully, didn’t have a line. I went right to the sink and ran the cold water. I didn’t need to piss. I needed to collect what was left of myself. I splashed my face and neck and stared at myself in the mirror.
“You are not going after Amy’s crush,” I mouthed.
LW: Ooooh this sounds fabulous!
Also, if you leave a comment on this post, you will be entered in a draw for a free copy of The Crush. Happy Halloween!
Elizabeth
Thank you so much for joining me today Elizabeth and I hope that you candy bag is filled to the brim and as many sales as you can carry....and then some more! Don't forget guys, leave a comment and you could win a free copy of The Crush *runs off to leave her own comment*
