Six Degrees with Taylor V. Donovan - and free ebooks!

I’m thrilled to have up and coming author, Taylor V. Donovan, in the house today to talk a little about writing and her debut releases, the first in her By Degrees series, monster novel Six Degrees of Lust and holiday novella Southern Winterland, featuring two characters from the series. I’ve had the privilege of a sneak peek at both of these excellent reads, and became an instant fan of this author.

Thanks so much for dropping by, Taylor.
    Thank you for having me. I’m very excited to be here. :-)

Can you tell us a little about your upcoming By Degrees series? What was your inspiration? How many books are planned?
    By Degrees is a serial with several storylines developing at the same time. The inspiration for every character in the series came from gay and bi-sexual friends I’ve known for years. It came from their lives, the situations they’ve experienced as members of the LGBTQ community, my dreams and well wishes for all of them and my personal stand on equality issues. Once the ideas started pouring they wouldn’t stop, and I was able to plot and outline the five books in the series in a little over a week.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write, and why?
    Southern Winterland is basically the background story for Christian Murphy and Remy Benoit, two characters with a very strong presence throughout the entire series. They won’t be the main characters until the fourth book, but they’re heavily featured in Six Degrees of Lust.
    Both Remy and Chris are a pleasure to work with, but I have to admit chapter two was my favorite to write, as Christian’s internal conflict could be heart wrenching at times. I love to explore feelings.
    For Six Degrees of Lust… Okay, I can’t possibly choose just one part. There was so much to explore…so much to cover… It sucked me in. All of it... I had lots of fun “negotiating” the terms of the agreement between Mac and Sam, though. Sam can be oh-so amusing sometimes. *g*

What, for you, is the hardest part of writing?
    Aside from finding the time, you mean? I’d say writing the first chapter is uber hard, definitely. I’m a linear writer. If I don’t have a solid foundation for my story, I can’t move on, so I stress like you wouldn’t believe over that first line.

I can believe it, actually. I'm the same way. What was one of the most surprising things you’ve learned in creating your books?
    That I can actually write touching stories. :-)

Well, that's a given. ;-) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? And why did you choose the M/M romance genre?
    Er…about that… See, I never wanted to be a writer. I have not been dreaming up characters or creating stories in my head my entire life. I started writing because of a very good friend of mine. She has been writing since forever and her dream is to get published. But she was having a bit of a hard time finishing her stories, so she asked me to collaborate with her. Anyone who knows me would tell you how…anal…I am about finishing what I start, and so the idea was for me to attempt to write something with her and keep her focused through completion of the book. So I got to work on it. The collaboration didn’t last long, though. As it turned out we had different styles, and that’s when I realized I wanted to be a writer. When I realized I actually have a style and a rather defined voice. I didn’t choose to write gay romance. I’m convinced it’s a calling. :-)

That's awesome! Is there any particular author or book that influenced you, either growing up or as an adult?
    Growing up I loved to read the work of Isabel Allende and Paulo Coehlo. Still do. In the past few years and since becoming a writer, I’d say Josh Lanyon and James Buchanan. I’m a huge fan!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
    I need visuals and a soundtrack. I can’t start writing a new character until I’ve found a picture that represents him the exact same way he looks in my mind. And the music? Not for me. It's for the characters. I need the music they like to listen to…the songs they react to, for whatever reason. Knowing what makes them tick makes me feel closer to them.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
    I was very fortunate. There were no challenges at all. I started writing Six Degrees of Lust in July of 2010 and finished the first draft in January, 2011. Then I sat on it for a while before I sent it out to a beta that wasn’t a friend. The manuscript was still with her when the opportunity to submit it to MLR Press presented itself. I freaked out, but I sent it in as it was. Three weeks later I was offered a contract for it. As you can see the journey wasn’t difficult or long. Like I said, I was extremely fortunate. :-)

If your book were made into a movie, who do you picture playing each character’s part?
    I’d rather not say. I don’t want to influence readers’ idea of what Mac and Sam look like. I think it’s better to let them choose for themselves. :-)

What can we expect to see next for you?
    It all depends on my publishers. I’m working on a few very exciting projects, but don’t really know which one will come out first. *g* For updates, you guys can join my sites, follow me on Twitter, or just email me. I’m easily accessible.

And finally, if you were a superhero, what would your superpowers be?
    Time traveling! Wait, that’s not a power. Hmmm… I’d be some kind of healer, but can I still time travel?? LOL

LOL Of course you can still time travel. Thanks again for dropping by, Taylor. It's been a pleasure, as always. Best of luck with your By Degrees series.

Southern Winterland and Six Degrees of Lust are both available now at MLR Press. Get the latest happenings and exclusive excerpts on Taylor’s website at www.TaylorVDonovan.com

* * *
Southern Winterland, the blurb:

Christian Murphy is out, proud and very often loud.

Remy Benoit is an equal opportunity flirt, but he swears guys are not his thing.

Different lifestyles had never interfered with their close friendship, but after too much alcohol and almost kissing under the mistletoe a year ago they’ve started to drift apart.

A special holiday event brings the men together, and this time around they might have to acknowledge that mutual admiration and respect are not the only things making them seek each other out.

* * *
Six Degrees of Lust, the blurb:

New York City FBI team leader Samuel Shaughnessy lives for his immediate family and his job. After a marriage gone wrong he has stuck to a firm rule when it comes to relationships: he doesn't have them. Sexually active and emotionally unavailable keeps him satisfied, especially now that he is in hot pursuit of a serial killer targeting gay men.

Former firefighter Machlan O'Bannon now manages a successful sports bar in Houston and after years of waiting he's ready to stand up and be the man he always wanted to be: out, proud and drama-free. His politically-aligned family wants to keep him locked in the closet, but Mac just wants to meet the man of his dreams.

One man is as high strung as the other is laid back. A chance meeting brings the two men together, and one night of passion ignites a fire neither can fight. Their lives are not only miles apart, but as different as day and night. They don't want to get involved...but will they be able to stay apart?

* * *
The Big Giveaway!
I'm calling it the "big giveaway" because Taylor, being her awesome self, has not only graciously offered up a copy of her new novel Six Degrees of Lust to one lucky reader, she’s also adding a copy of Southern Winterland to the prize pile. Just leave a comment below, with your email address, no later than Friday, January 6, 2012 at 11:59pm PST. One winner will be drawn at random for not one, but two great reads, and announced here on Saturday, January 7. Good luck!

New Year, New Column: What He Says…

Starting next week, Thursday, January 5th, I’ll be featuring a new regular column called What He Says…

What He Says… is a small collective of some awesomesauce male writer and reader friends, whom I’ve asked to weigh in on a variety of topics. Every other week I’ll pose one topic or question to the guys, ranging from silly to serious. Depending on how passionate the guys feel about any particular topic, their comments could range from a single short sentence to a mini-essay. Sometimes they’ll all weigh in, sometimes only a few will. Sometimes they’ll make you laugh, sometimes they’ll make you think.

Just to mix things up, some weeks we’ll have a photo prompt where the guys have 100 words or less to share what they think is happening in the photo or how it affects them. We’ll have the occasional survey, and if the guys have something big going on they want to share, like a new release, special announcement, etc., the column will be theirs that day.

If you have any topics or questions you’d like the guys to tackle, or some cool photos you’d like their takes on, send them my way. You'll get the credit if we use your topic or photo.

What He Says… will run on the first and third Thursday of each month, right here on this same Bat Channel.

I hope you drop by next week and welcome these wonderful men on our column kick off, where they’ll be sharing their New Year’s resolutions.

In the meantime, let me introduce the men behind What He Says…


Charles Edward...
Charles and his spouse are among the 18,000 same-sex couples wed in California before the passage of Proposition 8. They are recent empty-nesters who live in a drafty house near Knoxville, Tennessee, where there are two good ways to stay warm during the winter. One is to sit in front of the space heater and write.
Visit Charles at writer-Charles-Edward.blogspot.com
Backlist:
Jump First
Valentin’s Day
In the Darkness


Damon Suede...
Damon grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. Though new to M/M, Damon has been writing for print, stage, and screen for two decades. He’s won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.
Visit Damon at www.DamonSuede.com
Backlist:
Hot Head
Grown Men


D.H. Starr...
“Kissing is better than sex if it's done right,” says D.H., author and hopeful romantic with a wildly sexy side who loves letting his imagination and fantasies get the best of him. “I believe in that look across the room that draws you to someone, but I also believe in the messy, sloppy, sweaty bedroom aerobics that make life worth living.”
Visit D.H. at www.DHStarr.com
Backlist:
Wrestling with Desire
Wrestling with Love
Meant for Each Other
Premonition



Edmond Manning...
Edmond has been writing fiction for 20 years, but only recently sought publication. He is a newcomer to the field of M4M fiction and is excited to explore the incredibly sensual ways two men can love each other. Favorite writing spot: nestled between milk and peanut butter M&Ms in front of a hearty fireplace blaze in his south Minneapolis home. He also is deathly afraid of zombies, and has stockpiled his house with canned goods and tools useful for decapitating the undead.
Visit Edmond at www.EdmondManning.com
Backlist: King Perry (coming Feb. 27, 2012 from Dreamspinner Press)


Stuart Wakefield...
Born with a creative drive, Stuart studied at art school before branching out into fashion design, theatre set and costume design and manufacture, and semi-pro acting and direction. He co-founded Writebulb, an open and supportive community of writers based in Essex, UK, and is happiest when writing about men who love men.
Visit Stuart at www.StuartWakefield.com
Backlist:
Body of Water
Memory of Water (coming 2012)


Thorny Sterling...
Look up sunshine in the dictionary and you’ll find Thorny in the description. He’s a young blogger and aspiring author discovering who he is while finding his way in this world. His brilliant personality, charming voice and refreshing perspective are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Visit Thorny at ThornyNotPrickly.wordpress.com

Finally Home with K-Lee Klein - and a Free eBook!

I’m thrilled to have up and coming author, K-Lee Klein, in the house today to talk a little about writing and her debut release, holiday novella Finally Home.

Thanks so much for dropping by, K-Lee.
Happy to be here, L.C. You know I adore you.

*blush* Thank you and back atcha. To kick it off, tell us a little about your debut release, Finally Home. What was your inspiration?
Finally Home was supposed to be a 15,000-word short story for a Christmas anthology but I missed the boat on the anthology deadline and the word count. I was at a beautiful lake in B.C. when I started but didn’t really have a concept except I must have been in a cowboy kind of mood. It turned angsty right off the bat so I wasn’t entirely sure it even applied to a Christmas theme, but in the end I tied up the ends nice and purty.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
There’s a scene in the kitchen where Josiah and Wyatt are cleaning up. I don’t want to give anything away but it’s a very emotional scene and I poured a lot of my own emotion into it. It left me wrung out but I love how the scene ended up.

What, for you, is the hardest part of writing?
I have a lot of trouble controlling my muse, he just seems to want me to start new things all the time and unfortunately, he gives me a form of writing-ADHD. I have way too many WIPs that I fear will never get done. I physically need to tie him down and say “shhh” for a little while. I also have chronic fatigue and depression, which can both affect whether I’m actually able to write or not.

What do you think your protagonist thinks about you? Would he want to hang out with you, his creator?
I think Josiah would love me because I’m very nurturing and like a big old mama bear when one of my “people” is hurting. Josiah lost his mom at a young age and still misses her – I wouldn’t take her place but I’d treat him just like one of my own.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? And why did you choose the M/M romance genre?
I’ve always written. It’s like a calming and stabilizing factor for me. I wrote a lot of short stories when I was young then moved on to writing for the school paper and the local paper where I grew up as well. I took Communication Arts in college but life circumstances prevented me from entering the field. I don’t think I chose M/M, I think it chose me because for the past few years that’s all I’ve really read. I love the idea of two men being able to express their feelings and wants and needs. It’s not about the sex for me, though that of course is nice, it’s about the internal workings of two men loving each other. Beautiful.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you, either growing up or as an adult?
I read a lot of Stephen King when I was young but I don’t write horror at all. As an adult I read a lot of mysteries but once I discovered authors like Ally Blue, J.L. Langley and eventually T.A. Chase, I was hooked.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Writing quirk? Hmm... I have this gorgeous cat with wings that I bought in New Orleans - you put a candle in his back and his eyes glow. If I'm writing at home I like to have him with me.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
I think my biggest challenge was myself. I didn’t have the confidence to take a chance that someone would like what I wrote. I wrote and posted slash but that’s a whole different ballgame. After I had some good responses to my free read Outfoxed, I convinced myself to at least test the waters. Finally Home was my first submission to a publisher and I totally never thought it would be accepted. Obviously I’m glad it was. :-)

How excited were you when you got that first book contract? How did you celebrate?
Well I think you were one of my first emails, probably something to the tune of “OMG!” I didn’t believe it at first, had to read the email a few times to make sure it really said what I thought it did. Don’t remember celebrating but the happiness I felt was enough to sustain me.

LOL Yep, I remember that email. Its a rush for sure. As writers, we all have different things we do to help us focus and slip into the zone. For me, it’s music. Do you need a quiet room, music, or some other background noise when writing?
I can basically write anywhere but it’s more a matter of mood and energy level for me. Having chronic fatigue and depression, I have to take the opportunities that arise because sometimes they’re sparse. I can write in front of the TV if I’m watching the show but if someone else is watching and I’m in a room that the sound carries to, I have to move or they have to turn it the frig down. I also flip from one story to the next a lot because if I get stuck, the change in characters and plot helps me keep moving.

What can we expect to see next for you?
Well as I already said, I have a bazillion WIPs. Okay maybe not a bazillion but quite a few. I have a YA story coming out in January from Featherweight as part of their charity line. Right now I’m working on a Private Dicks anthology submission (involving a rock star, of course) and a Valentine’s story that I was asked to contribute – both due at the beginning of January. I also have a shifter story with a witch, gypsy, wolf and mountain lion, and one of the sequels to Outfoxed on the go.

And finally, in a battle between a ninja and a pirate, who would win?
Gotta be the pirate because he’s all liquored up and won’t feel any pain, and therefore will keep fighting until he’s dead. Plus, pirates are sexy as fuck.

Thanks again for hanging out, K-Lee. I'm looking forward to more great stories from you.

Finally Home is available now from MRL Press. Get the latest happenings and exclusive excerpts on K-Lee’s blog: chaosinthemoonlight.blogspot.com and her fancy new website kleeklein.com/kleinwebsite

The Blurb:
When his father’s funeral brings Josiah Nelson back to his childhood home during the Christmas holidays, he’s determined to sell the ranch and bury his past. But when Wyatt Aames rekindles a fire in Josiah’s lonely soul, he realizes that home isn’t the house you grew up in, it’s where your heart belongs.

Finally Home Giveaway!
K-Lee has graciously offered up a copy of her new novella to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment below, with your email address, no later than Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 11:59pm PST. One winner will be drawn at random and announced here on Monday, January 2, 2012. Great way to start the New Year!

MMR 2011 Member's Choice Awards

The M/M Romance group on Goodreads is hosting their first-ever member's choice awards. The polls are open for people to vote on their favorite nominees until December 30th, 2011.

I was thrilled to learn that Long Tall Drink has been nominated for Best Cowboys (profession), Jailhouse Rock, co-written with Xara X. Xanakas has been nominated for Best Free Read, and my design for A Chip in His Shoulder has been nominated for Best Cover.

If you have a few minutes, drop by and cast your votes for your favorite books, authors and covers: Click here to vote.

Win or lose doesn't matter because you've all made my day and given me a big ole smile just by nominating my work. :-D

Thank you!

Monday Music: Merry Christmas, Baby

The King at Christmas. What else is there to say but a very soulful, Merry Christmas, Baby by Elvis Presley

Monday Music: Coming out at Christmas

Because we don't get enough of the holiday music/musac everywhere we go, all day long all month, (snort) I thought I might share a little holiday music you don't hear ten times a day on the radio. First up, because a choir can be a beautiful thing on the ears, and this song made me smile...

Coming out at Christmas by the London Gay Men's Chorus.

Talking Covers with Amara

Many folks know I also do book cover design, but for those who don't, well... now you know. ;-)

December 7th and 8th I'm hanging out at Amara's Place talking book covers. On the 7th is an interview about how I got into it and a bit of the process. On the 8th is a little post on working with Riptide Publishing and what went into some of their covers. So, if you're bored at work drop by and say hi. You can win stuff too! :-)

Southern Winterland by Taylor V. Donovan

Treat yourself to a little romance this holiday season. As a teaser prequel to the first in Taylor V. Donovan's upcoming Six Degrees series, Six Degrees of Lust, Taylor introduces you to Christian Murphy and Remy Benoit, and offers a little snippet in time as they share a moment of Christmas magic.



The Blurb:

From the By Degrees Universe meet Christian and Remy, close friends who may be destined to be something else...

Christian Murphy is out, proud and very often loud.

Remy Benoit is an equal opportunity flirt, but he swears guys are not his thing.

Different lifestyles had never interfered with their close friendship, but after too much alcohol and almost kissing under the mistletoe a year ago they've started to drift apart.

A special holiday event brings the men together, and this time around they might have to acknowledge that mutual admiration and respect are not the only things making them seek each other out.

The Excerpt:

"... and I just got off the phone with the designer. She assures me we have the space to build Mrs. Claus' kitchen in addition to Santa's workshop. Which is marvelous, don't you think?"

Remy Benoit glanced from the grocery shopping list he was writing to the phone on his desk, an amused smile on his lips at the tone of his friend's voice. Chris's enthusiasm was impossible to resist on a regular day and downright contagious when he was excited about something, even if that something happened to be his plans for Christmas decorations. Chris was so hyped up by the whole thing Remy was ready to go buy some ice skates. Hell. He could almost taste the eggnog and smell the mistletoe.

In the middle of a disgustingly hot August day.

The memory of the two of them standing under the mistletoe at a mutual friend's New Year's Eve party eight months ago made Remy clear his throat. They'd been chatting up a storm, because that's what they did whenever Chris was in town, and somehow ended up by the door, even though he couldn't remember moving around the room.

He'd been very close to kissing Chris that night.

"So we're going to have the ice skating rink, a two car train that will take people from the entrance to the little North Pole village in the back of the parking lot. We're going to have fake snow, and ice sculptures, and Santa's workshop. And lots of elves, because they..."

Remy blinked, thinking how Chris looked a little like one of those elves from the Lord of the Rings movies, what with being tall and lean and all elegant and shit.

Had it not been for their friend Braxton choosing that moment to wish them well on the New Year, Remy would've messed up their friendship by giving into what he liked to refer to as alcohol induced curiosity.

There was no other explanation for it.

Chris was an extremely good looking man, and damn if he didn't have the most charming personality Remy had seen this side of the Mississippi. The masses were drawn to him like moths to a flame and he had to admit he was affected the same way. But no matter how curious he got, he shouldn't mess with Chris's head like that.

Because they were good friends.

Because Christian Murphy was the poster boy for flamboyantly gay.

And Remy was not.

Flamboyant. Or gay.

Deep down in his gut he knew Chris would've welcomed the kiss. There were occasions in which Remy could've sworn there was more than friendship and camaraderie in the way Chris gazed at him with those sparkly turquoise eyes of his. Like that one time when Remy showed up at his place for moral support when Chris decided it was time to get rid of his grandma's personal possessions, or the time when Remy slipped and fell.

Chris had re-arranged an entire week of work appointments and meetings in NYC just so that he could travel to Houston and nurse Remy's twisted ankle. The injury wasn't that big of a deal and Remy had plenty of people willing to help him had he needed them. But the guy showed up anyway.

They both knew Chris's presence wasn't necessary, but they ignored that fact.

Just like Remy chose to ignore the nagging voice in the back of his head that told him Chris would like to be more than friends.

"... that you have no problems wearing the elf suit."

Wait.

"What's that about an elf suit again?"

"Have you not been paying attention?" Chris's sigh was over the top. It matched everything else about him. "I'd like for the staff to dress like elves. You did hear me when I said I need your help, right?"

"I'm not wearing a green suit with candy cane tights."

"Don't be ridiculous." Chris tried to soothe him. "The tights will be green too."

"Not happening."

"But-"

"No."

"Bet you'd look scrumptious," Chris teased.

"Bet you're right," Remy answered without missing a beat or worrying about the fact that his voice had dropped at least two octaves. "But you say that to all the boys, so it ain't gonna change my mind."

"What kind of a slut do you take me for?" Chris giggled. Being thirty, he should've sounded like an idiot. He should have. "I only say it to the really gorgeous ones."

"Not dressing as an elf."

"Will you at least please wear the hat?"

"Only ‘cause you're so pretty when you beg."

He knew that he was playing with fire whenever they engaged in this sort of exchange, but he liked Chris too much to stop talking to him.

Flirting with him.

Remy looked forward to spending as much time as he could with Chris whenever Chris left his home in New York City to visit the house and art gallery he owned in Houston. They always had fun.

Hell.

Remy knew he had talked Chris into coming to Houston way too many times.

But surely that didn't mean anything, right? Because he wasn't the only cool guy Remy knew and liked to spend time with, and Chris was very much aware of that fact.

There was Mac, Remy's best friend, and Braxton, who also happened to be his boss and Chris's childhood friend. One was straight, the other gay. They were extremely good looking men. Remy was thirty-two years old and even though he'd never been attracted to a man he didn't have a problem acknowledging his friends were hot.

But he had never wanted to kiss either one.

Or any man, for that matter.

Not until Chris.

Which confused the shit out of him.

"... and I'm also looking into having real reindeer on site. Maybe a petting zoo kind of thing. What do you...?"

Hard as he tried, he couldn't understand why he thought everything about Chris was different. Special. Remy even felt slightly protective when it came to him. And why that was he didn't know. Chris might be flamboyant and most definitely a queen, but he was also a tough as nails man who didn't need to be protected.

By Remy or anybody else.

So he needed to put a halt to it.

And that little episode in which he'd almost claimed Chris's plump, glossed-up lips? Had to have been alcohol induced.

Had to.

"... you're not even listening to me. I can tell. You're far too quiet right now."

Remy shook his head. He had spaced out, but he wasn't about to admit it.

"I'm listening."

"No, you weren't," Chris argued. "What are you doing? Writing the grocery list?" Remy put the pencil down and pushed the list away from him. How the hell did Chris know? "I bet you were. You take care of that every Tuesday at the same time."

Geez.

When the hell had Chris become so familiar with his routine?

"Sounds like this year's production will be bigger than usual," he rushed to say, leaning toward the phone to make sure his voice carried loud and clear through the speakerphone. It was never pretty when Chris thought he'd been ignored, and Remy didn't want to deal with that kind of whining right now. He just wanted to talk, because it'd been three weeks too long since the last time they had.

He shouldn't be chit chatting on the phone. He had to finish the grocery list, make sure the wine cellar was well stocked, and prepare next week's menu for Utopia, the Houston restaurant where he was the executive chef. But here he was, stalling in his small office and putting everything off because Chris had called.

He always answered whenever Chris called him.

That's what friends did.

Chris didn't call him as often as he used to anymore. Things had slowed down a bit... right after the almost kiss.

Shit.

"It will be. I'm committed to carrying Grandma Violet's holiday tradition of turning Illusions into Santa's workshop for a week. I've done it exactly the way she did it her entire life, but this year marks the fifth anniversary of her passing. I want to do something big in her honor...something special."

Remy stared at the phone, mesmerized by Christian's voice. As effeminate as the guy was, his tone wasn't high pitched, but there was a definite female speech pattern and intonation to his raspy voice.

Everybody said it was sexy as hell.

If Remy were gay, he'd have to agree.

"... you want I can email the designs so that you can see how beautiful everything looks. Now that all the tenants have agreed to relinquish their spaces for one week we have enough room to create the perfect winter wonderland in the parking lot." Remy blinked several times and did his best to focus on whatever Chris was telling him now. "It's going to be magical, you'll see. And like I said before, I want to hire you to run Mrs. Claus' kitchen. The space will be tight but I want people to be able to stop by for refreshments."

"You don't need to hire me. I'll help you with whatever you need."

"Really? You'd be in charge of providing food and drinks. I want to serve hors d'oeuvres. I was thinking salmon spread and crackers. Shrimp and those things you made last time I came to Houston. The English cucumber and seared tuna cubes, remember? I liked those a lot."

"I remember."

How could he not? Chris had made a production out of eating them, sticking his tongue out to lick the tuna before closing his mouth around it. Throughout their three years of friendship Remy had watched him do the same whenever he was presented with food he'd never tried before. It made him wonder if Chris did the same with other non-edible, albeit suckable, objects.

Then he remembered Chris hadn't come to Houston in four months. He'd made his usual appearance at the Bayou City Art Festival, but that was back in April. He'd never stayed away for that long before.

Shit.

"What about Beef Wellington? Can we serve that too?" Chris asked. "Most people like that, so it'd be a good choice, right? And-"

"No, it wouldn't," Remy cut him off. Knowing Chris, he'd be suggesting caviar next. "And neither are shrimp and seared tuna cubes."

"Why?" Chris's whine made him smile. He was probably frowning-not too hard though, as he was scared of getting premature wrinkles-and pouting. It wasn't often that he didn't get his way and when such rare occurrence came around he didn't take to it quietly. "It's my celebration. I can have shrimp and tuna if I want to."

"It isn't practical. And it'd be expensive as hell."

"Like that ever stopped me from going after something I wanted."

Truer words were never spoken.

* * *
Southern Winterland, by Taylor V. Donovan is available at MLR Press.

Monday Music: Intro

This week I decided to go instrumental with Intro by The XX. There are a ton of videos for this song, but I chose this one because the city you see there? Yeah, that's Vancouver. Really though, its the music. Sit back, close your eyes and just let it take you where it takes you.