Book Tour for Permanent by Megan Slayer (Interview & GIVEAWAY)

Before we get to my day with Megan Slayer talking about her new book Permanent I want to thank Goddess Fish Promotions for letting me be a part of this tour and Megan for taking time out of her busy schedule to be here with us.  And now without further ado, let's get this party started.....

TSP:  How did you get where you are today with your writing career?  And if you weren't writing, what else would you be doing?

MS:  I got where I am today because I had a special little birdie MAKE me. Okay, well, she didn't exactly drag me kicking and screaming, but Kealie Shay said look, either write it or don't but don't crab about it if you don't. So I started writing. And since my characters don't believe in behaving--who really wants to anyway--I get to write super hot! If I wasn't writing? I'd probably be stir crazy. Okay, and I'd be creating art. I went to school to be an artist and I had a teaching certificate. Unfortunately the economy wasn't kind, but oh well. I started writing and I'm happy to be doing it!

TSP:  What is an average writing day like for you?

MS:  Not enough. My typical day...I'd like it to be writing all day, but it's not. I get the tot up for school, get him to school, do the EDJ which is evil some days and pretty cool most days. If DH is home, then I probably won't get to write until he and the tot go to bed. If DH isn't home, then as soon as the EDJ is done, I write. But when the muse isn't cooperating...well...it's a standstill. She tends to wait until I have no computer turned on to start bugging me. But I don't think I'd have it any other way. Can't force creativity.

TSP:  Many of your books are erotic in nature.  What heat rating would you give your books and what qualities make for a good erotic read?

MS:  Um...good question. I think I'd rate mine white hot. I've got man love, menages, hinky kinky stuff, shibari...and toys because who doesn't love toys?  I don't know exactly what qualifies as a good erotic read...to me it varies. I like a book with characters I can relate to. They can be alpha-ish, but too pushy or too mean and it turns me off. I like to laugh, but a romantic erotic comedy just doesn't do it for me. I want strife and angst and lots of sex that has to do with the plot, not just plunked in for the sake of sex.

TSP:  With your m/m books, do you write the couples differently than a hetero couple and which m/m couple is your favorite of those you've created?

MS:  My m/m couples are harder to write than my mf couples. First, men don't behave like women. I know, crazy right? But if someone wants to write mm, making one basically a woman with a man's name won't cut it. Even cuddly men won't do the things women do.  There are two penis', and four hands. Sometimes it's hard to keep them all straight, pardon the pun. Do I have a favorite couple? No and this is why. Luc and Taygan are their own ball of angst. Things can't be rectified right away and working them out was interesting. River and Tory has serious issues that were tough for me to write. River's backstory really kicked my butt and I felt for him. Cam and Regan were fun because they just wanted to have sex all the time. Chase and Rayland were another ball of angst, but they had separation issues. I love them all even when they gave me fits.

TSP:  How do you feel about the state of the m/m genre now that it's become more mainstream?

MS:  I  look at it this way. Whatever you want to read or write is fine by me. I may not read all of it and I might not 'get' your kink in the book, but that doesn't mean no one else gets it. I'm glad the m/m genre is more mainstream because its a sign that m/m and f/f are all the way around becoming more accepted. That's fantastic. I might not get into what you're doing, but as long as it's not illegal, have at it.

TSP:  Are there any genres that you'd like to try writing in that you haven't yet?  What is your favorite genre to write in?

MS:  Sci-fi/Fantasy, Urban Fantasy. I just don't 'get' writing about a totally different planet. I love to read about it, but just can't 'get' it for my own story. And that's fine. There's nothing wrong with knowing your limits as well as there is nothing wrong with pushing those limits.

My favorite genre is contemp. Doesn't have to be m/m. Can be any combination as long as contemp. I love to write about what's going on right now. Although I've got an idea for a MF recent historical. I spent time talking to some Vietnam vets and have story inspired by their stories. Don't know if I'll get it written, but I'd like to.

TSP:  How do you feel about the digital revolution and what effect does it have on how you market yourself and your books?  Do you own an eReader yourself?

MS:  I do have an eReader. A Sony. One of the first versions. All I know is I can't find a cord for the thing to be charged in a wall socket. Doesn't mean I don't like it. I love it. Taking 60 books (yes, it holds more, but that would mean I have to put them there and I haven't yet) in one little device is sooooo much easier than toting along 60 paperbacks. Plus there are so many fantastic authors who write short stories. Short stories, unless in a collection don't go to print. So it used to be very hard to find them. Now it's cake. I'm glad we have the digital books. Sure, I love a good paperback, but...computers and readers and all that are certainly the future.

TSP:  What book releases and WIPs do you have coming up that you can share with us?

MS:  I've got a short about a fallen angel, tentatively entitled Fallen in the works. I'm also working on the next in the Glow Band series for Changeling Press. Here's a little bit from Fallen:

“Go home, Brett.”

Livia’s blood turned to fire in her veins. The deep, gravelly voice set her nerve endings on end. Now if the drunken fool would just blow, she could at least see the guy who came to her aid. If he was the dream guy from history class, then even better.

“Butt out, Ty.” Brett smacked his lips. “We were gonna have sex. Me and those lovelies.” He reached out, hands hovering over her chest. “Come to Brett. Again.”

Again? Who was this clown? “I wouldn’t have sex with you if you were the last man alive,” Livia snapped and slapped his hands away. “You spilled beer on me and you’re a pushy ass.”

“You’d know.” He swayed into her personal space and murmured in a much less slurred tone, “I never forgot you.”

Never forgot her? What the hell was this guy drinking? She stared at the drunken gladiator. Nothing about him really stood out. Still at her age, everything looked a little familiar.  He couldn’t possibly be him. The man from her memory was dead. She saw him die over three centuries before.

“Okay, time for Brett to go home. I don't want shit on my carpet and she’s not interested.” The owner of the deep voice stepped out from behind Livia and grabbed Brett’s arms. Her jaw dropped. This man was the man. The man. Tyler Wilson embodied her innermost desires, looked like no one she’d ever known and he was right there protecting her.

Lean muscle filled out Ty’s tall frame. Her pussy clenched and liquid heat coated her panties. What would it feel like to have his hands on her body? To run her fingers through his thick dark hair and listen to him murmur dirty things as they explored each other’s bodies, what would it be like? A flash of bodies moving together and the look of sheer lust in his blue eyes filled her mind. Oh good God, it would be almost heaven.

If he felt the heat, too. She couldn’t hope to be so lucky again. The run-in with Brett or whoever he was served as a cold reminder of what she’d fallen for and couldn’t have.

TSP:  My website is all about favorite things.  What are your favorite things, the things you can't live without?

MS:  Favorite color: deep blue, Favorite animal: cats - they can flick their tail, show you their bottom and basically give you the finger and it's perfectly fine.  Cracks me up., Favorite song: Ticket to Ride - The Beatles AND Summer, Highland Falls - Billy Joel, Favorite musical artist: Gary Allan, and Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams.

What can't I live without? Gee... My BFF because we share a brain. Don't ask, long story, but true story. My Gary Allan Smoke Rings in the Dark CD. My iPod. My laptop. DH and DS.

PERMANENT by Megan Slayer

Sometimes love just ain’t enough...

River Cortland trusted the person he loved. His faith couldn’t protect him from the bitter sting of a cold-hearted Domme. If he’s going to learn to trust again, he’s got to deal with his past.  His roommate and best friend, Tory, has seen the physical damage and hasn’t walked away. Can he deal with the emotional scars as well?

Tory McClellan wanted the carefree life...until one night with River changed everything. There’s more to the shy art teacher and Tory wants to know everything-how he tastes, the scent of his skin, the feel of his body as they make love. What terror lies behind River’s brown eyes? Better yet, how can Tory make the sadness go away and be in River’s life, permanently?

EXCERPT 1:

“Come get me. Need help. Please?”

The guy was usually unflappable and placid. For River to freak out, it had to be something huge. His heart hammered against his ribs. The fear and pain in River’s voice ate at him. Sure, he knew River liked to play at the club, but the last time he checked, River came home unscathed.

Tory wrenched the Jeep into the parking lot. Was he supposed to go in? Wait at the door? As he drove through the parking lot, he spied a figure huddled next to the ebony column.  He knew the plaid shirt. He’d given River the shirt last Christmas, but dear God, according to the Jeep it wasn’t above freezing out. Tory jerked to a halt and burst from the vehicle. He knelt next to his friend. The bright white and deep greens barely showed in the midst of the dark marring the cotton fabric.

“What happened?” Tory propped River on his arm, supporting River as he stumbled to the car. “That’s what you get for being bombed.” Although he worked to sound nonchalant, something wasn’t right.

River tilted his head, making Tory gasp. Both of River’s eyes were swollen, one completely shut. A cut bisected River’s cheek and blood slipped down the dirt-stained skin.  His body trembled. His hair lay in damp hanks about his forehead. The stench of urine emanated from his clothes. Tory wrinkled his nose and clicked the seatbelt into place. The guy was in shock.

“You’re shivering. Are you going to be sick?”

EXCERPT 2:

"Are you watching that? Or you just rubbin' one off?"

River opened his eyes. Trust Tory to think he'd been jacking off to damn chick flick. Sure, the guy on screen was hot, but not approachable hot. River wanted the one man he couldn’t have. Maybe it was finally time to make his desires known.

“You could pick better scenery. He’s too hairy and walks like he’s got a stick up his ass. I’ll bet Snow doesn’t even like him.”

River blanched and rolled his eyes to cover his surprise. Duh, Tory knew River occasionally played for both teams. But he’d never told him the kind of man he considered his ‘type’. River would have to admit he wanted something other than friendship. He’d have to confess he was more than a little infatuated with Tory McClellan. Sounded good to him.

"So what's the verdict?"

Damn. What a loaded question. “No verdict to render, man. I’m here and she’s wherever she is.”

Tory plopped down next to Snowflake. “Hi little girl.” He handed River a fresh beer. "You’ve pouted for almost three months now. It’s time to move on. Plus I can hear you clack that piercing against your teeth clear in the other room.” Tory took a long pull from his bottle and tapped the amber glass against River’s bottle. 

“To hell with women?”

The cat hissed and swatted at Tory.

“I meant, with the exception of you, your highness.” Tory gently scratched Snowflake behind the ears. “She wouldn’t be so grumpy if you hadn’t given her such a ridiculous name.”

“She was the prettiest snowflake in the snow drift.”

“She’s black.”

“So?”

“Fair enough.” Tory clinked his bear bottle with River’s. “You up for a piece of ass?”

Frowning, River shifted his gaze for a split second and wriggled his brows. “Are you offering?”

“If you’re in, I’m in. Women aren’t worth the hassle." He grinned and rested his hand on River’s thigh. “You seem overall happier. I like it.”

AUTHOR BIO:

When she's not writing the stories in her head, Megan Slayer can be found luxuriating in her hot tub with her two vampire Cabana boys, Luke and Jeremy. She has the tendency to run a tad too far with her muse, so she has to hide in the head of her alter ego, but the boys don't seem to mind.
            
When she's not obsessing over her whip collection, she can be found picking up her kidlet from school.
She enjoys writing in all genres, but writing about men in love suits her fancy best.

Currently hanging out every Wednesday and Friday at the Menagerie Authors site, hunting Hotties for the Saturday posts, and working on the next great story brewing in her head!

http://www.wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
www.menagerieauthors.com (Megan's current site)
http://theauthormeganslayer.blogspot.com (Menagerie Blog)
http://menagerieauthors.blogspot.com/ (Megan's personal blog)
http://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer (Megan on Twitter)
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000938063999 (Megan on FB)
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Menagerie-Authors/180690948613536 (Menagerie Fan Page)

**********GIVEAWAY**********

A $10 Changeling Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

-This giveaway is OPEN TO ALL.

-Just leave a comment, along with your email addy, to be entered.

-The winner is chosen randomly from all comments made during the tour, so the more tour stops you make a comment on, the greater your chances of winning.  A complete listing of the tour stops is here.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm CST on 1/13.