Welcome Back Lee Brazil

Greetings fans!


Welcome to Michael's with another guest post.


Now, I'll be having guests posts every Monday and Tuesday only so, please, if you'd like to stop in, let me know!


Today, I'm welcoming back Lee Brazil who is on book Three of his Truth or Dare series. I loved the first two and even though this one switches gears and is hetero,  know I'll love this one as well. 


Let's give him our attention!


* * * *

Writing for the Masses

 A while back I did an interview with Michael in one of her incarnations and she asked me a question that I’m still thinking about to this day.  What it boiled down to was this: Is something erotica simply because it’s about a same sex couple?

 

First of all, I don’t care for the idea that everything about two male characters is automatically erotica or erotic romance.  Some of my stories have less sex than a typical Harlequin romance does.  Yet, because it’s sex between two men- it’s automatically erotica instead of romance.  I don’t care for the practice, primarily because I classify what I write as romance.  To me, calling it erotica simply because those two people falling in love are both men is wrong. 

This is not to say that I haven’t written some things that are very definitely erotica. Just not everything.

For instance, I think my release tomorrow, Giving Up definitely qualifies as erotic romance.  Why? Because Arden is fond of playing with toys, and the sex scenes are intended to reflect Arden and Brandon’s growth as their relationship progresses.  In the end though, the relationship is the important part.  (Let me hastily add that this is my first and potentially last m/f story- I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again- it was damned hard to write!)

And that’s the definition of romance isn’t it? The journey to love?

I want the readers who pick up my books to be engaged by the characters, to experience their highs and lows, to care what happens to them.  To that end, the sex is a vehicle to understanding the person, not an end in and of itself. 

To me that’s the difference between erotica and romance.  Why is this sex scene on page sixty-two? Does it do anything for the plot or enhance the readers’ understanding of the characters? No? Then out it goes. 

But.  There’s always a but, huh? Here’s where my indecisiveness comes into play.  I think at this time in this society we live in- the majority of readers would be shocked to pick up a romance novel and discover it was about two men…or two women.  So we have to distinguish them somehow, right?

Someday we’ll just have romance. 

Giving Up

Truth or Dare

Book 3

Lee Brazil

From Breathless Press

On August 5, 2011

Blurb:

Can Dr. Arden Grey teach Brandon Blake that giving up control is worth while, with the right woman?

Brandon Blake has a problem.  His family is fed up with his controlling ways. They don’t need him managing their affairs any more.  Brandon doesn’t want to lose his connection with his brothers, but he doesn’t know any other way to live.   He’s been in charge for a long time. Now his brothers are leaving home and making families of their own, and Brandon’s interference has caused some serious rifts. Brandon’s stressful job as CEO of the family production studio and his concerns for his brothers have contributed to the ulcer his doctor recently diagnosed. Therapy is supposed to help Brandon learn how to let go and give up the need to control every thing.  Brandon finds the counselor he’s been sent to intriguing, if a bit intimidating, though she has absolutely nothing in common with the women he’s dated in the past.

Dr. Arden Gray knows about control.  A survivor of marriage to a dominant, abusive partner, she’s spent the last twenty years turning her life around.  She’s learned to take control and has made a career of teaching others to do the same.  Brandon Blake is a surprise.  When his doctor sends Brandon to her, Arden isn’t sure how she can help the man.  But after a few sessions, she sees something intriguing hidden inside Brandon Blake, something that tells her he just might be the man she’s been looking for.  If only she can convince him that giving up control to the right woman will solve all his problems!

Excerpt:

He stood automatically, reaching out to shake her hand in greeting and murmuring polite good mornings.  A slight heat rose in his cheeks and he hoped to hell the blush wasn’t visible.  And why the fuck a simple handshake for the doctor should cause him to blush he didn’t know, but something about her made him feel self-conscious and uncertain in ways he hadn’t felt since he was a wild sixteen year old serving as his beautiful mother’s escort to Hollywood’s wild parties.

            He stiffened his spine and forced himself to meet those sharp blue eyes, unwittingly squeezing her hand just a little too tightly.  He watched as the blue eyes flared wide then narrowed, and Dr. Grey gently removed her hand from his.  The flush on his cheeks grew and he felt his stomach churn alarmingly.  He and Trick were about to have more in common than he’d ever thought possible if he couldn’t calm down soon. 

            Dr. Grey led him into her office and he took the same seat he normally did on the plush leather chair in front of the desk.  Somewhat surprised, he noticed that instead of taking the chair adjacent to him as she usually did Dr. Grey seated herself behind the neat steel and glass desk.  Crossing her hands on the desktop, she met his questioning gaze calmly, and Brandon let out the breath he hadn’t realized he held.  His roiling emotions calmed as he took in her stillness, and even his churning stomach was soothed.  This was different, but not wrong. 

            Or so he thought until she spoke. 

            “I’m afraid, Brandon, that I can’t keep you on as patient any longer.”

            Panic flared.  “What? Why not?”  His stomach heaved and he forced himself to breathe deeply through his nose, swallowing rapidly to prevent the consequences of the sudden lurch.  Nothing of his feelings showed on his face.  He had twenty-three years of practice at making sure of that. He couldn’t have heard correctly. 

            “Because I can’t help you in a professional capacity.  I’ve given you the tools to manage your problem, you’re an intelligent man and you can resolve your issues from here on your own.”  Her voice remained the same as it always had, soothing and cool, her gaze untroubled and calm. 

            Damn. How had he come to depend on that calmness in such a few meetings?  How would he deal without the soothing effect her voice had on his nerves and stomach?  Quickly pulling in resources to hide the shocking sense of abandonment he suddenly felt, Brandon grasped the tiny thread of anger and blew it up. 

            He surged upright and waved his phone in her face.  “Fuck.  I could have been at the office heading off a dozen major crises!  See this?  It’s called a cell phone. I have it with me all the time.  Next time you need to change our plans, use it!”

Taboo Tens Day Twenty Four Lee Brazil

Greetings!

Welcome to day twenty four at Michael's and I'm thrilled to welcome back Lee Brazil for a fab guest post. Have a look at the interview also if you have time. It was done last month.

Lee Brazil

He wrote one of my fave books of the year, Keeping House and has a followup to the wonderful book called, Telling the Truth part 2 of the Truth or Dare series from Breathless Press.

He's giving away part 2 today, so make sure to comment.

Give him your undivided attention!

Commercializing the GLBT Movement: Progressive or Shameless?

   

In the last week or two, a major retailer unveiled a line of GLBT supportive t-shirts.  My first thought when I saw the posting in FB was awesome!  Hundreds of thousands of people will see these shirts, wear these shirts, and ultimately share the message- GLBT is okay.  In a world where it’s now illegal to say GAY in a classroom in some parts of the country, and where the issue of marriage is a hot topic, when our lifestyles are constantly marginalized, that’s important.  I read on.  Ten percent of the proceeds from the t-shirt sales will be going to the It Gets Better Project.  Bonus.  Say what you want about Dan Savage- maybe he’s an asshole, he’s certainly got enough opinions, but- as far as I’m concerned It Gets Better is a stroke of fucking genius and second only to The Trevor Project in delivering a needed message to GLBT youth today. 

Then a friend said- whoa- you don’t seriously believe this major retailer has our best interests at heart, do you? They’re just out to make a buck for themselves on the backs of the movement.  Ouch.  I thought about it.  And thought about it some more.  But ten percent of this retailer’s sales is a lot of money.  Does it matter what their motive is if the result is good?  If men and women and children across the country are clothed in shirts that say- I give a damn? If the message of tolerance and acceptance is spread, does it matter if some executive in an office somewhere is getting pats on the back for his genius idea?  Hey, Gay is trendy- even the president is supportive.  But, trends fade.

So, ultimately- I didn’t buy a t-shirt.  I might.  But probably not.  Because I decided that for me, personally, being trendy isn’t enough.  What do you think?

Oh- but I hope every school kid in the state of Tennessee shows up in Rainbow apparel of some kind on the first day of school next year.  And I don’t care where they buy it either. 

Anyway- Here’s Telling the Truth: available June 24^th from Breathless Press

Blurb:

Paying his debt for a losing hand of cards sets Terry Blake free to pursue a fantasy he never dreamed could be reality.

Terry has lived his life according to the guidelines...studying accounting, getting an MBA and working for the family business. And while handling the family and business finances has its own rewards, something has been missing and his eyes have only just been opened to what, or rather, who exactly that something is.

A losing hand of cards on a Wednesday night gives Terry’s youngest brother the chance he’s been waiting for. Terry can handle any dare his brother dishes out, but Mischa’s demand for Truth is a different matter.

Unable to hide behind his pristine reputation and fancy business suit, Terry is honor bound to divulge secrets he’s been ashamed to admit even to himself in the privacy of his own bedroom.

Dex and Trick have finally found acceptance for their relationship in the homes of their friends. They would never do anything to jeopardize that new found sense of belonging. Fooling around with Mischa’s prissy, domineering, oh-so-sexy older brother is risky. A one night stand might be ok, and the boys happily indulge, but then close ranks afterward, pushing Terry aside.

Terry isn’t going to take a dismissal without a fight. He’s convinced that Dex and Trick are meant to be his, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make them realize all the safety and protection they need can be found in his arms.

 Excerpt:

When he opened his eyes again long moments later, he caught sight of two young men, nearly identical in appearance standing in the shade of a leafy palm tree directly in his line of vision. Stunned, he stared in disbelief. They were absolutely beautiful. Were they actors from the studio? Pale skin, black hair, identical bright blue eyes,  rosy-red lipped mouths, slender athletically built, they were so absorbed in one another they seemed alone in the crowded yard.

As he watched, the boys turned closer in to each other, leaning forward to whisper together. Lowering his lids, Terry watched covertly. There was something illicit about the pair, something almost sexual. But surely they were related? Two young men who looked so much alike had to be brothers.

One of the boys tugged the other deeper into the shadows of a tree and the privacy fence. They looked around, and when one bright blue glance settled on him for a minute, Terry's heart rate increased and his skin heated. They couldn’t tell he watched from under his lashes could they? Apparently deciding that he was asleep and no threat, the two embraced, sharing gentle kisses and petting each other with slim white hands.

Enthralled, Terry stifled a groan as his cock stirred against the zipper of his khaki shorts. Damn. That hadn’t happened with so little effort in a long time. What the fuck? He tried to look away from the boys, told himself he should be disgusted, but he couldn’t. Bottom line, he’d never been so turned on in his life. He’d spent his whole life doing and feeling exactly what everyone felt he ought, and what had it gotten him? A corner office in the family business and a lonely bed at night. Fuck it. He was done living for everyone else. If Mischa could find his own way, then Terry damn well could too.  And he’d get started on doing that as soon as his erection subsided enough to get out of this chair without causing himself a lot of embarrassment. He crossed his hands over his lap and continued to watch the boys in the corner of the yard.

Mmm, and why rush off? This lovely couple was really getting into their embrace now, and since no one else seemed to notice, Terry felt kind of included, almost as though he were participating in the act instead of witnessing it. He could practically feel the sweep of tongues in his mouth, the touch of two sets of hands tracing his shoulders, his abdomen. Damn, he really wished he had Dan’s bold personality or Mischa’s rebellious streak. He’d be over there in a heartbeat taking his share of kisses.

Down boy, he whispered to his newly overactive libido. Baby steps; we’ll get there eventually. Jumping from mild-mannered straight accountant to gay threesome in seconds made for too drastic a change.

“Terry? Are you all right?  Do you need a drink or something?”

Damn. Somehow Mischa had walked up and knelt next to him without him noticing.

“I’m fine. Fine. It’s a little hot here, that’s all.” Terry spoke, but he didn’t look at Mischa. 

***

Fab guest post and hot excerpt.

I felt it was a nice gesture but, when I heard they were only being sold in certain parts of the country, I thought, whats the point?

Still good to support the movement. The LGBT community needs to be accepted. Bottom line!

I'm really looking forward to part 2 of this series. The first book was awesome, very enjoyable, light hearted. I read it in like 2 hours. *laughs*

Look for both and buy them, you wont be disappointed.

Join us tomorrow for another fan post as well as my new friend Xakara who writes Polyamory romance. 

Two in the same day huh? I know, great stuff!

See ya then!

Welcome Lee Brazil!

Greetings Readers! Welcome to another guest day here at Michael's. Today, I'm pleased to have an author I respect in the genre, Lee Brazil to promote his book, Keeping House.

I ADORED the story and recommend this book to anyone that's a fan of romance, not just gay romance. Please enjoy the interview.

MM: First off, thank you for joining us. How long have you been writing?

Lee: For publication, about eight months- prior to this I wrote for myself

MM: Cool, what made you decide that you wanted to put yourself out there to publish?

Lee: Someone else convinced me that what I wrote was good enough.

MM: That’s great. Before you started, had you done any fanfiction? If so, what fandom?

Lee: Never- I still haven’t done any fan fic.

MM: Are you in agreement that writing fanfiction is a great way to practice ones craft, why or why not?

Lee: I actually think it’s a good way of practicing, but a difficult thing to do. You’re working with established characters that are well loved and opening yourself to criticsm if your vision isn’t true to character

MM: That’s very true. What is your favorite subgenre to write?

Lee: I write contemporary m/m romance… I’d like to write regency- but the harshest reviews I’ve seen are on historicals – so it’s a bit intimidating

MM: I’m in agreement with that! Is there one that you haven’t tried that you see yourself doing in the future?

Lee: Oh, I plan to write a Regency m/m, I just need to get my research ready first

MM: Would you ever write a hetero romance? Why or why not?

Lee: Actually, I did. I wrote Giving Up, which is the Third book in the Truth or Dare series, and its hetero. The sixth book in that series is also planned as a hetero. Why? Because statistically speaking all four Blake brothers couldn’t be gay. Could they?

MM: What is your opinion on the “chicks with dicks” analogy? In your opinion, is it wrong for your males to be emotional or romantic?

Lee: Well, no. I think that’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. I hate labels of all kinds. There are romantic men, emotional men, stoic men, and so on. I strive to make the men in my books romantic. Why? Because I recognize that the primary readership I’m looking at is female. I think m/m romance that doesn’t recognize the value of emotion or romance is destined to fail.

MM: I totally agree with that. Awesome answer. Your first published book?

Lee: A Beautiful Silence was published at the end of October 2010.

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?

Lee: I’m not sure what you mean by real. Does it have to be plausible? Sure. Can every guy in the story have a fantasy dick? Sure. But lets face it, too much reality would fuck up a good story. I don’t want to read or write reality. I believe reading is a form of escapism.

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

Lee: I have a great deal of admiration for many fellow writers. Josh Lanyon is a great favorite of mine, not just because he can spin a story, but because he is unfailingly helpful, polite, and positive. Another is AJ Llewellyn. That man has the most incredible work ethic I have ever seen!

MM: What books are you reading at the moment? Its okay to give a fellow author a plug!

Lee: I’m in the middle of a few things right now: Love’s Blood by AJ Llewellyn, The Best Revenge by Andrew Grey and Into the Woods by ML Rhodes.

MM: What are you working on now?

Lee: Lol. I’m just finishing up a novella called Trapping Drake, which is a sort of sequel to The Man Trap, which you can read on my blog.

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

Lee: My characters are totally fictional.

MM: If you write gay romance or erotica, just how descriptive are your in their sex scenes?

Lee: It depends on the story. My first story, Silence, was I believe very explicitly graphic. Keeping House, which released May 6^th, is much less so. The sex suits the story. I don’t add sex into a story just because. If the story calls for it, I put it in. I actually have a story I’m hoping to publish that has no descriptive sex. Just kind of “fade into black” moments.

MM: As a gay fiction writer, do you feel that the trend is changing where it is becoming more mainstream?

Lee: I think it is. I certainly hope so. It’s been a niche market for a long time.

MM: What is your opinion as to why publishers only want to group all manlove stories under erotica? Do you feel this is a hindrance to our genre?

Lee: I do, actually. I don’t classify everything I write as erotic in content. Some, yes, is very erotic. But primarily I consider myself a romance writer. What I try to convey to the reader is the emotion behind sex, and I think pushing all m/m titles into the erotica category cheapens that a bit. Some people don’t read erotica. If you called it romance, you might broaden the market, who knows?

MM: Great answer, so do you think it’s time for publishers to begin calling gay fiction/erotica what it is instead of m/m? Why or why not?

Lee: Hmmm. Not sure on this one. I think that we still need the gay or m/m subcategory. The world isn’t ready to pick up an m/m novel by accident. Would it be lovely if someday you could find a Harlequin Gay Line? Like the Hispanic and African American lines? Yeah- when we can reach that level of acceptance, then maybe it would be safe to remove labels like m/m romance and just call it all romance.

MM: I like your answer to that. On another topic, 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?

Lee: I read about that. It’s a fascinating conundrum, isn’t it? I think if you request a review, then you owe the writer a “Thank you” whether the review is good or not. If someone buys your book, and trashes it in a public venue of their own accord, then no, I don’t think you need to respond. You should, of course, never respond with a “fuck you’ to any review. A simple “thank you for your time” is sufficient.

MM: Great approach. Do you think women being a good portion of the amount of gay fiction writers detracts from the genre? Be honest and why or why not?

Lee: No. Some of my favorite writers are female. I don’t believe that gender is relevant to much of anything in life. Oh, I’ll grant you child birth. Shakespeare didn’t need to be a woman to write Juliet as a believably angsty teenage girl in love, and you don’t have to be a man to know how love between two men works. Besides, the predominate readership is female. It would be hypocritical, wouldn’t it, to say they can read it but not write it?

MM: Very true! What is the major difference between male and female writers?

Lee: No idea. I was actually surprised to find out that someone I thought was male was female. I don’t think you can take a piece of writing and lay it out and say… quantify it and analyze it and come to a conclusion about the gender of the author.

MM: I read a blog about gay fiction writer’s losing their imagination because they are writing the same subjects repeatedly, what are your thoughts? http//www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/?p=42883

Lee: You know, I was just thinking about this the other day. Since ancient Greece there’s been this lament,that every story has been told before. I would contend that we each tell it differently. Romance as a genre is one story. People meet and fall in love. How we expand on that story line is up to us. Each decade of writing tells that story differently. Each writer tells it his way. Example: My friends and I have a group called Story Orgy. We write m/m romance. Every Monday we get three words. Each of us takes the same three words and the genre, and we all write something incredibly different. Guess bottom line, I’m of the opinion that the story is worth retelling.

MM: That’s a great answer! What is it about gay fiction and or romance that pleasures you to write it?

Lee: Falling in love was the best thing that ever happened to me. I have the privilege of living every day with the one I love, knowing I’m loved, and that’s what I want to share with everyone. There is love out there, and it is for everyone, not just certain people.

MM: That’s awesome Lee, now, I have some more relaxed questions! Do you feel that celebs who are gay or bi should come out the closet?

Lee: I think this is a personal choice. No one owes it to anyone else to come out. I’ve seen that argument, and it really bothers me. Celebrities are treated like public property. I can completely sympathize with a celebrity who wants to keep the press out of his/her bedroom. Can you imagine? The celebrity Joe Blow makes his announcement, “I’m gay.” Reporter number one, “Are you a top or a bottom?”

MM: That's a good answer. For the men in your books, commando or underwear?

Lee: Underwear- though commando is sexy

MM: It is! Favorite character in one of your books?

Lee: I love all my characters- but I think Mischa Blake has to be my favorite

MM: Lastly, the character you identify with?

Lee: Oh, that’s tough- I actually see myself in a lot of my characters, but Brandon Blake in the upcoming Giving Up is probably pretty close to me

MM: Thank you Lee. I loved your answers! Much continued success!

Blog: http://leebrazilauthor.blogspot.com/

Buy link : http://www.breathlesspress.com/erotic/forthcoming/keeping-house.html

Blurb:

Keeping House

Mischa knew his brothers were up to something.

He didn't know it would lead him to Donovan Holloway and change his carefree lifestyle forever.

Donovan Holloway, advertising executive, newly made vice president of the company where he's worked for twenty years, grew up in a free love hippie commune, taking care of the parents who should have been taking care of him. He's worked hard to put himself through school and achieve the American dream. All he's ever wanted was a normal family life—house in the suburbs, two cars, two kids, a shaggy dog. A family to come home to—to care for, and to care for him.

Mischa Blake is the green eyed, liberally-pierced, black-haired, Mohawk-wearing spoiled youngest son of a Hollywood producer and his actress wife. Mischa has made a terrible mistake. In a fit of childish pique, he's accepted a dare from his older brothers. The dare? Live on his own, supporting himself completely for a year without accessing his trust fund. No problem. Except Mischa has never worked a day in his life, hasn't finished college, and has absolutely no skills that he can bring to the table.

So when he sees Donovan's ad for a housekeeper/gardener, he has nothing to lose by applying, because really...how hard can it be?

****

I really enjoyed this interview as I do all of them but I love when I have the same thoughts as the other writer. *laughs*

I look forward to reading more of Lee's work in the future. I loved his book!

Hope you enjoyed the post! See you tomorrow for my own novel that's free, Mi Familia!

Until then...