Hi —
I went to my OCCRWA Chapter meeting today where the finalist in the Book Buyer’s Best Contest were announced. The BBB is a Chapter sponsored contest which attracts entries from published authors all over the world. I entered this year mostly to support my chapter. I entered two books. As you know, i write MM romance and it is pretty hot. I decided not to enter either of my books in the Erotic Romance category, but instead entered them in the general book categories into which they fall — one in Contemporary Romance and one in Paranormal Romance. I didn’t expect any real results from this effort. while i have finaled before, this year was much bigger. In addition, in the past, i entered in erotic romance. The two categories i chose this year get the largest number of entries in the contest. The contest is in no way oriented to MM romance or to erotic romance. Most entries are mainstream authors with hardcover or paperback novels from New York publishers and some judges won’t even read MM. So this is all by way of saying that i didn’t expect to place. Especially when, at the beginning of the announcements of finalists, the contest organizer said that many of the finalists were also finalists i the RITAs, RWA’s national contest for published authors.
Of course, as you can tell by the headline, i got a happy surprise. While my contemporary novel didn’t place, my paranormal novel, Wolf in Gucci Loafers, is one of the three finalists! I’m thrilled and will use it as an excuse to share an excerpt from the book with you here. I won’t find out how well it did (1st, 2nd or 3rd) until October, but just finalling in such heady company is very exciting. Here’s a nibble of Wolf in Gucci Loafers.
Excerpt: WOLF IN GUCCI LOAFERS by Tara Lain — MM paranormal
Available at AMAZON, Dreamspinner Press ARe and other retailers
Socialite Lindsey Vanessen wants someone to love who will love him back—an impossibility for a gay, half-human, half-werewolf. Too aggressive for humans, too gay for wolves, and needing to protect the pack from human discovery, Lindsey tries to content himself with life as a successful businessman. But when someone starts kidnapping members of wealthy families, Lindsey meets tough cop Seth Zakowsy—the hunky embodiment of everything Lindsey wants but can’t have.
Seth has never been attracted to flamboyant men. What would the guys in the department think of Lindsey? But intrigue turns to lust when he discovers Lindsey’s biting, snarling passion more than matches his dominant side. It might mean a chance at love for a cop in black leather and a wolf in Gucci loafers.
“Lindsey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, sir. I’m doing well.”
“Come talk to me.” His grandfather turned and walked into the living room.
Did he want to talk? He’d have to be careful, but yes. Pop-Pop was a smart man. He walked down the stairs and into the large, comfortable room. His grandfather sat on a love seat at one end of the room, so he took the identical seat across from him. He leaned back and crossed his legs. Look relaxed.
Pop-Pop sat forward. “Romantic troubles?”
Wow. The old man had a way of diving to the truth. “Not exactly.”
“I heard you had a date with the Westerberg son. Your mother’s doing, I believe.” The old man could have been talking about a date with a girl, he was so comfortable with it.
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you like him?”
“Well enough.”
“Ah, so he’s not the issue.”
Lindsey grinned. His grandfather was enjoying the guessing game.
“So if it’s not exactly romantic troubles, what exactly is it?”
“I guess you could call it unrequited romantic interest.”
He rubbed his hands together. “Now this is interesting. I’ve seen you with many men over the years since you returned from school, but none of them lasted more than a few dates, and none of them ever sparked what I would call romantic interest. How odd that you should affix your affection on one who doesn’t care about you. Have you considered it might be a form of self-protection? Only wanting the ones you can’t have has a way of keeping you single.”
Lindsey grinned. “I guess that’s possible sometimes, but not in this case. He’s just highly inappropriate. A tough cop I met while helping Dave with the kidnapping issue. Dave asked if I would take him to the polo match to give him a chance to investigate among people we know without being too obvious. So I did it.” Lindsey shrugged.
“And got caught in your own trap.”
He smiled, but it hurt around the edges. “Yes, I guess. I found him attractive from the start but assumed he was straight, so it was just a harmless flirtation. After the match, I found out he’s gay, so that made the vast expanse between us more real.”
Pop-Pop frowned. “It’s not like you to discriminate based on class.”
“Nothing like that, sir. He’s the one discriminating, I’m sure. I’m simply not at all his type. A bit too lavender silk for his black leather, shall we say.”
His grandfather steepled his fingers and stared over them. “You’re not just one thing, Lindsey. I’ve know many men in my life and you’re one of the very best. Smart, decisive, action-oriented, kind, and basically good. Unlike your father, I might add. You need a man who sees that. But you’ve got good judgment, so if you think this cop is romance-worthy, then my bet is there’s something there worth pursuing. Ride him down, son!” He laughed that big robust sound that had comforted Lindsey since the day he was born.