Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Welcome GA Hauser!















Greetings fans and welcome to another day at Michael's!

Today I am thrilled to have a new friend and favorite author on my blog, GA Hauser!

She is one of the most well respected writers in the gay fiction genre and her backlist is amazing! Not only is she good what she does but she's a really sweet person. One of the coolest I've met virtually and she's here for an interview.

Hope you enjoy...

MM: Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing GA Hauser.

Thank you for joining us.

GA: Thank you so much for asking me.

MM: So tell me, how long have you been writing?

GA: I have written for as long as I can remember. When I was young I used to write stories of horses and knights, then as I grew up, I wrote naughty bits and made sure I destroyed them before my mom found them.

MM: What is your favorite subgenre to write?

GA: Gay male erotica, full stop. I have tried so many others: mystery, murder, suspense, straight fiction…just don’t enjoy writing them as much. I feel very passionate about writing man love in many ways.

MM: Is there one that you haven’t tried that you see yourself doing in the future?

GA: I’ve given this shape-shifter aspect a try and found I do enjoy it. I don’t want to fall into the same mold as others however with clans and strange underground cultures. I would like to keep it like I did with my latest release Of Wolves and Men, and its sequel- The Order of Wolves. In these books there is no larger plan for the shape-shifters. They stumble upon it by chance.

MM: I’m of the opinion that erotica doesn’t have to be real all the time to make a good story, what are your thoughts?

GA: Yes, I agree. I think some readers do lose sight that this is fiction. In fiction the author ‘should’ be allowed to go out there and do things that aren’t necessarily what ‘you-the reader’ may do, but it’s what keeps the story interesting.

MM: Who are the authors that you look up to?

GA: I admire any writer who has not given up, bowed to critic’s pressure, and kept their art form true to themselves. The writers who persevere in a climate where anything is published, and continue with good careers are the people I admire most.

MM: What are you working on now?

GA: ‘Going Wild’ Book 9 in the Action! Series.

MM: When creating your characters, do you have models in mind or are they totally fictional?

GA: Both. Some of my characters are inspired by friends I’ve had, or even frenemies! If I don’t like someone, they end up being the bad guy in my books. Of course there are made up pure fantasy men in them as well. Like Mark Richfield. I’ve yet to find him in real life, but I’ll never stop looking.

MM: As an M/M writer, do you feel that the trend is changing where it is becoming more mainstream?

GA: Yes. In some ways we are becoming mainstream. There is a large selection of work to read, and when I first was published, there was very few manlove romance authors. I can see now the genre has literally exploded. So the more we put ourselves out there, the more we become a valid genre.

MM: Tell me about your latest release Of Wolves and Men.

GA: Like all of the readers out there I love cowboys and men who are tough and become wolves or have challenges to face. In Of Wolves and Men, I integrate the handsome cowboy, Charlie Mosby, who works on a ranch in Heber Utah, and an ATF Agent, Roman Burk who needs his help after changing into both a wolf and a crow. All my favorite heroes in one book; cowboys, cops and wolf-men!

MM: Most of your releases are self published, do you feel this is the way to go? What has been the secret of your success?

GA: Yes. I do. The royalties are not split between you and your publisher. The upside for me is that I got a good start with publishers before I went out on my own. The hardest part for a new author is promotion and getting a following. I was lucky enough to have a little niche carved out before I began The GA Hauser Collection LLC. Now I can produce my own covers, decide on release dates, etc. The control is much better, but you trade off marketing.

MM: What is your stance on the fact some gay male authors discriminate against women because of our gender?

GA: I try not to take it personally. But of course it is odd. After all, men write novels about women detectives, older people write children’s books. It’s just another form of ignorance and discrimination and you won’t convince all the people to accept women gay writers. But what I find very odd is that straight women passionately love men. It certainly makes sense to me that we would write some of the best gay romance. We devour men all our lives. Certainly we have some idea of what they like.

MM: Recently, a writer sabotaged her career by answering a bad review on a blog. How would you have handled this and do you think authors should answer their reviews?

GA: If the review is from a legitimate source and not some author with a bone to pick or sour grapes, then you take it for what it’s worth and move on. I don’t get into pissing matches on the net. I find that the backlash is worse than the review. Acknowledge move on. Not everyone will like your work. I certainly have a spectrum of fans who love me, and critics who hate my guts. That’s life in any creative field. Artists, actors, chefs, we all get criticized and have to take the good with the bad.

MM: As a fellow fem in the genre, what is your stance on the difference between male and female gay writers?

GA: I haven’t read enough of both to do a comparison. But I have had many gay male fans email me with their opinion. It seems, and I’m being general here, that women write more romance and men more sex. But I’m not sure I agree with that. My books are jam packed with the act. Inevitably I can’t draw the line myself. I do find it slightly unsettling when women writers actually try to pretend they are men. I find that they are deceiving their fans and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

MM: I read a blog about M/M writer’s losing their imagination because they are writing the same subjects repeatedly, what are your thoughts?

GA: It is a trap you can fall into. Some of my favorite bestselling authors have fallen into that as well. There is always a chance to repeat a pattern of rewriting the same novel again and again. I suppose you just have to keep your creative juices flowing and think outside the box. But sometimes I think bloggers are a little full of themselves and put others down to make themselves feel better. It’s slightly unnecessary to pick on this particular genre. After all, how many horror flicks out there put the victim alone in a house and walking into the basement when everyone in the audience knows there’s an axe murderer down there. Yes, some things are done over and over, but it’s the good writer who can make it work.

MM: What is it about M/M that pleasures you to write it?

GA: I suppose the bottom line is, it gets me hot. I know I’m not alone in this, because you show very clearly on your blogs and with your writing that women love two hunks grinding. It’s easy to write what excites you and what you enjoy.

MM: Where can we find you on the web?

GA: On my author website at www.authorgahauser.com and on Facebookwww.facebook.com/people/Ga-Hauser/1486624188

My Blog: http://gahausersblog.blogspot.com

MM: Thank you for taking the time to spend with us today GA and continued success on your work.

GA: Thank you so much for asking me. It’s a pleasure to be here!

Of Wolves and Men


BUY Link for latest release:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ofwolvesandmen-534677-142.html

Blurb for Of Wolves and Men

‘Cowboy’ Charlie Mosby worked on a horse ranch in Heber, Utah. He loved his work, the owners of the ranch, and his co-workers; wranglers who helped tourists with guided horse tours and trail riding all year round.

But after a chance meeting with a handsome gay man who had helped Charlie change a flat tire on Interstate 80 a month ago, Charlie was beginning to wonder about his sexuality. And if that wasn’t confusing enough, strange things were happening on the ranch.

Satanic worship? A strange cult ritual? Whatever it was, it wasn’t good for the owners or the horses on it.

One night Charlie stumbles upon Roman Burk in the woods, naked, bleeding and shivering in the cold. What Charlie never imagined was who -or what- Roman was. Even though the handsome stranger seemed to vanish at times and reappear as if by magic, Charlie was infatuated by this man.

Roman was fearful of revealing his secret. Most of all to a cowboy who was spending more time hunting him, than loving him.

In this shape-shifting story of sexual bonding and discovery, can both Charlie and Roman find what they’re looking for? It’s a question of honor; one that has been up for debate since the first time man set his eyes on this formidable predator. It’s about the mutual respect of Wolves and Men.

Sample chapter for Of Wolves and Men:

It was crisp and clear. The dark sky was covered in stars, far more than anyone near a city could see. As he made his way, his horse the only sound for miles, Charlie realized his buddy ‘Goat’ was right. Nothing seemed alive around him. Usually the songs of night birds or movements of nocturnal hunters were audible. Not tonight.

A chill rose to his skin, but it was under his jacket and not from the cold. He had never believed in supernatural mumbo-jumbo. Didn’t pay attention to local Indian legends, and certainly never believed in ghosts.

He drew near the area where he and Butch had repaired the fence. It was intact just as he had left it.

The ground was freezing up, and Spirit’s hooves snapped brittle twigs and made heavy clomps on the solid soil.

A whimper caught his attention. He stopped Spirit and listened.

A sensation stronger than chills hit him. It was borderline terror. He jumped off Spirit’s back and held the rein. After a few yards, Spirit refused to keep walking with him, rearing up but not in a violent way, just being stubborn. Charlie trusted his horse’s instinct. He stopped too.

Another whimper, a very human voice, shocked him. Spirit would not approach with him, so he dropped the rein and hurried towards the sound.

In the dimmest of the sliver of moonlight, Charlie found a man, naked, in the fetal position, shivering.

“Son of a bitch!” He rushed to his side and found blood spattering him. “Talk to me! Where’re you hurt?” Charlie touched the man’s arm.

Immediately the man’s brilliant green eyes met his.

“Hang on! Hang on!” Charlie rushed back to Spirit who was looking nervous, the whites of his eyes showing. “Calm down, buddy. Don’t you go crazy on me now.” Charlie took a blanket off the saddle and hurried back. He wrapped it around the shivering man.

“What the hell you doin out here in this cold? You will get hypothermia.” Charlie tried to warm him.

“F…f…freezing…”

“No wonder!” Charlie tucked the blanket closer around him. “I need to get you out of here.”

“No…no police…”

“Look. I just want to get you warm, all right?”

The man nodded.

“Where’s that blood comin’ from?” Charlie began to check the man over. Though he was thinking only of the man’s wellbeing, this man was at least six feet tall, and built like he had weight lifted at a gym all his life. His hair was jet black and his jaw had dark designer stubble covering it. He looked like a city boy, out of his element.

Charlie tucked the blanket high on the man’s chest and inspected his legs for some kind of wound. His thighs were wide and muscular, his pubic hair as black as his head hair, and the glance Charlie got of his crotch was enough to know this man was big everywhere. “Come on, partner. I got to get you warm. Can you stand?”

The man nodded, struggling to sit upright.

“You got a name?” Charlie hauled the man to his feet, feeling his weight leaning heavily on him.

“Roman. Roman Burk.” The man’s teeth chattered.

“How on earth did you get here and why?” Charlie walked Roman to Spirit.

The horse backed up, snorting as if in fear.

“Hang on. He’s all spooked.” Charlie grabbed Spirit’s rein and had to drag him closer. “What’s with you, boy! Calm down.”

The horse shifted like a nervous colt, not staying still for a second. “Spirit! Hold on. Hold on, boy.” Charlie dragged Spirit closer to Roman by the chin strap, angry the horse was making a bad situation worse. “Come on, Roman. You climb on. Just step into my hand.”

Roman and Spirit seemed to lock gazes. It was the oddest thing Charlie had ever seen. “Come on, Roman, he’s all right.”

Clinging to the blanket, Roman seemed as reluctant to get on Spirit as Spirit was for him to ride him. “Will you both calm down?” Charlie had no idea this would be an issue. He yelled at the horse, “You gonna make me call and wake someone up? Now behave.” He reached out to Roman. “Come on.”

Roman moved closer.

“Climb up. I got you.” Charlie cupped his hands for Roman to step into it and get on the saddle.

Spirit was about to protest, but Charlie jerked his bridle to prevent it. He swung up behind Roman and put his feet into the stirrups. It took some persuading but finally Spirit began heading back down the trail.

Charlie felt Roman leaning back on him, so he held him close with one arm. “Why are you up here? You know, you picked a bad time to be getting lost naked in the woods, Roman. There’s some mighty odd things going on lately. You’re lucky I found you when I did.”

“Thank you.”

It was so softly spoken, Charlie just caught it. Roman’s hair brushed his lips as they rode back.

“Thank you, Charlie.”

“I’ll take care of you…” Charlie blinked. “I don’t remember telling you my name.” Did he? He must have.

“I know. I know you will, Charlie. You’ll take good care of me.”

“Have we met?” Charlie felt a strange sensation in his body.

“I’m so cold.”

Charlie held him tighter. It was the best he could do with one arm. He didn’t know where he was going. The hospital? Vernon’s house?

“Your cabin. Please.”

“Are you reading my mind?” Charlie laughed but he was slightly rattled.

“Please.”

“You don’t fret. I’ll take care of you.”

“Thank you, Charlie. I know you will. That’s why I chose you.”

Charlie imagined the cold was making Roman slightly delusional. He heard hypothermia did that. Made you hallucinate.

He rode to the barn, dismounting and helping Roman do the same. He tightened the blanket around Roman and quickly got the saddle off Spirit. Spirit was still acting like a mass of nerves, staring at Roman like Charlie had never seen him look at another human before.

He shut the lights in the barn and held Roman around the waist as he hurried with him to his cabin. “Almost there.”

“I know.”

Charlie opened his door and locked it behind them. “I’ll get the fire going, you go take a hot shower, ya hear me?”

Roman dropped the blanket, standing naked before him.

Charlie gulped audibly. “You…you need me to show you where everything is?”

Roman stalked him.

Charlie backed up near the fireplace. The blood spatter was in a strange pattern. Light, as if Roman was standing beside something else that was shot, or cut. But Charlie kept being drawn to Roman’s eyes. The intensity of the color, the power of the stare was hypnotic.

Roman put one hand against the cabin’s exposed wooden beams, over Charlie’s head. He brushed his lips against Charlie’s lightly.

“Sweet mother of god, I got me another gay boy.” Charlie gulped and his cock went thick in his jeans.

*****

Wow, what an interview and excerpt. I have the book and its waiting in my library to read.

GA is truly one of my heroes and I wish her nothing but the best.

Hope you enjoyed and please join us for Wow Wednesday tomorrow and author Adrienne Wilder on Thursday!

Until then...


14 comments:

S.Lira said...

TY for stopping by GA!

Erin O'Riordan said...

Awesome interview! "We women devour men all our lives..." Love it.

Sassy said...

Interesting excerpt.

I am glad you are branching out GA. It's always nice to see an author fighting against the boundries set by the mainstream players.

After all, why else write a niche subject?

S.Lira said...

Ty for stopping by Erin and Sassy!

Jaime Samms said...

Nice interview, G.A. It's always nice to hear from someone who's been ding this a while and know I'm not the only one who thinks it never gets old. :)

Blak Rayne Books Blog said...

Who is this, GA Hauser??? Never heard of the lady. Oh I'm just teasing. LOL
I know who she is and she's a sweetheart. Great interview Rawiya and what a great interviewee (is that a real word?). LOL Love you both! ^_^!!

S.Lira said...

TY for stopping in Jaime and Blak the same and luves you too! :)

Marie McGaha said...

As always, great interview and great excerpt.

Rie

GA Hauser said...

Thanks everyone!! Heck, I thank Rawiya for letting me get me two cents in!!

S.Lira said...

TY for stopping in Rie!

Anonymous said...

From SammyJo Hunt:

Great interview, GA! It was good to get your thoughts and perspectives about the genre and what goes into your writing. I find I've experienced many of the same issues, although I'm sure nowhere near as much as yourself. With only one book out, that will likely change with time, LOL! :D

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Very interesting interview. Thanks to you and Rawiya for giving us some great insights.

Best,
SammyJo

She said...

Good interview. I love the hotness of the m/m action. I'll be reading Of Wolves and Men when I'm on vacation next week. Can't wait for the reading or the vacation ;)

S.Lira said...

TY for stopping in Sammy Jo and She! :)

GA Hauser said...

Thanks, 'She'. I hope you enjoy it!!