Alexa Land: October 2016

Dirty Dozen blog hop – 12 GRL Authors – 12 Question Q&A – 12 e-book giveaway

I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome author Jake C. Wallace to my blog today, as part of the Dirty Dozen blog hop gearing up for GRL 2016! I had the great pleasure of meeting Jake at Rainbow Con last year. Can't wait to raise a glass with you at GRL, my friend!

We're each answering 12 questions, one from each of the authors in the blog hop. Jake's answers follow, along with two excerpts from his New Vampire Justice series (which is fab, by the way)! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post for your chance to win a dozen ebooks, one from each of the Dirty Dozen authors!

Tams/Jake – If you could spend the day with one of your characters, which one would it be, and why?

Tough question. Most of my characters are in danger most of the time. But if you’ve gotta be in danger might as well be able to laugh. I would choose Shaney, from Curiosity Killed Shaney, because his curiosity brings him to do some pretty laugh worthy stuff…like finding out what would hold tennis balls to the ceiling longest, peanut butter and fluff and entering a creepy cabin where he trips into a ceremonial circle, and absorbing an ancient power that caused all kinds of problems.

Jeff/Jake- What are you working on currently and what's it's inspiration?

Currently I am working on a rewrite of my story for the 2015 Goodreads MM group’s, Don’t Read in the Closet event. If you don’t know about the yearly event, readers/writer send in prompts with pictures of stories they want written. Those who want to write a story choose a prompt that speaks to them. Mine prompt was about Paul, a gay man who excelled in sports and life, etc. He is severely injured in an accident that took everything away he loved. He retreats from everyone. Anyone trying to help, he sends fleeing, intentionally. In comes Jacob, a rehabilitation therapist who is too stubborn to give up, who won’t run away. The original story was in Paul’s POV. Because of his anger and self-pity, the story was really intense. This rewrite adds Jacob’s POV and breaks up the emotional pounding on the reader. The past title was Divine Intervention. It may change. Check my website for more info. Hope to self-publish this by the end of the year.

Wade/Jake - If the lead character in your current novel were to read your other books, which one would be his/her favorite and why?

Paul from Divine Intervention before his accident wouldn’t have had the patience to read stories where characters struggle to fix their problems. Pre-accident Paul is a perfectionist, while having some empathy for others, his focus is on winning from the start.

Paul after his accident. He would really like Diventando: The Vessel. Paul has struggled to overcome something he couldn’t control just as Owen had to when he learns he has an Incubus inside of him. Also, Paul’s dark personality matches the tone of that book nicely. Also,

My question - If all of your MCs were thrown into a strange and dangerous world where survival relies on ingenuity, creativity, common sense who would come out on top?

Since all or my characters all have to survive strange and dangerous events, I would hope they would all come out on top. If I had to choose though, it would be Rex from Diventando: The Vessel. He’s over a hundred years old and a demon hunter who can take a head off with the swing of his sword.

Brandon/Jake - What musician or album do you think people should listen to as they read your work because it fits the soul of your words (either a specific title or your writing in general)?

If you’re reading the New Vampire Justice Series, then listen to Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen. The titles of all of the books come in some way from the lyrics. I love this song. Queen is my all-time favorite band right next to Led Zeppelin. For all of my writing, I listen to a group of artists/bands: Led Zeppelin, Original Queen and Queen w/ Adam Lambert, Pink Floyd, Jimmy Hendrix, Queensryche, Jeff Buckley, Evanescence, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Adam Lambert, Garth Brooks, Counting Crows, and a few others I can’t think of.

Morticia/Jake – If you could be one of your characters and live their life, who would it be and why?

Hmmm. This took some thought trying to actually remember every one of my characters. Wow, when did there get to be so many! I am going to say Jerricho from Jerricho’s Freedom. An Anzuni demon prince who has the classic horns and tail that can be hidden, who is set to become king, who has a smoking hot boyfriend. There’s just the fact that he can carry children as part of the royal line. That may be a deal breaker, lol.

Tempeste/Jake – If you could be a fruit, any fruit, which would you be and why?

Dragon Fruit because anything with dragon in the name…awesome!

Jordan/Jake – What is the thing you enjoy most about gatherings like GRL?

I love getting to see the friends I’ve made online again or meet them for the first time. When I first came into the MM world as a writer, the welcoming I received in the online community was wonderful, but there was something priceless that I found. People accepted who I was inside, and partly because of that, I was able to let that person out. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I feel accepted, comfortable and finally belong someplace in this awesome community.

LE Franks/Jake – What is the most vivid romantic moment from any film that has lingered the longest and meant the most to you…. and why?

My finance would laugh that I’m answering anything about romance in a movie (I told her it slows the story down, lol). I’ve got nothing except that scene in Titanic where they’re in the old car. I only watched the movie because my fiancé loves the movie, and Kate Blanchett and romantic stuff in her movies. Damn, this is the hardest question here! Okay, I don’t have one but the entire Buffy and Angel romance…the tortured hot vampire with a soul in love with the vampire hunter. Yup.

K-Lee/Jake – If you could take any fictional couple or character (television, movies, real-life, books) and add them to one of your books, who would it be and why?

Spike from Buffy and Angel. Surly, grouchy, evil, inflated ego…oh yeah. One of the best characters ever.

AE/Jake – What kind of quirky habits do you have before or during the time you write?

Love to be on the couch, headphones, music blasting. I can’t write at a desk or in silence. The music definitely focuses my brain. Not too quirky but definitely habits.

Alexa/Jake – When you write, do your characters hijack the story, or do you keep a tight grip on the reins?

Those self-involved, egocentric people do whatever they want, even turn a 12,000-word story into a 115,000-word story. But I have to say, I love when I realize where they’re going with a situation. Sometimes it catches me totally by surprise, and I can’t keep myself from saying “holy shit” out loud. Luckily I’m home most of the time when I’m writing.

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Dare to Love Forever: New Vampire Justice Book 1 (repub.)

Release date 9/26/16

If you read the first release and want to know if you need to re-purchase, click here.

Blurb

Carson Locke is dangerous, even by vampire standards. A rare Tabula Rasa vampire, he can wipe the mind of those he bites—human or vampire. Because of this, he’s lived his entire life in isolation. When his family is murdered, Carson runs from those who want him dead. Injured, starving, and about to be executed, he meets Commander Lincoln Samuels, an officer in the New Vampire Justice police force.

Lincoln, a Sanatore vampire, possesses the gift of healing. The moment he encounters Carson, broken and terrified, trying to steal blood to survive, he is compelled to help the other man—despite the risk to himself. Their bond creates something the world has never seen, but others have plans for Carson, and his destiny was written long before he was born. He’ll either become a tool to control the vampire world, or, with Lincoln by his side, find the courage to fight and become its savior.

Excerpt

…Lincoln nudged the kid’s knee with the toe of his boot. The suspect flinched but didn’t look up. Lincoln crouched and lowered his voice. “Hey, kid. What’s your name?”

Every muscle in the too-thin body shook. There was no answer. From the scream he’d let loose, Lincoln surmised he could talk. He touched the kid’s shoulder. Still he didn’t move, but his shaking ramped up a couple of notches.

“I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe now.” Lincoln turned to his officers behind him. Of course Dennison was the only one with his gun still drawn. “Holster your weapon, Dennison.”

Dennison hesitated, not bothering to hide his disdain. Lincoln raised his brow. Dennison huffed, then did as he was ordered. Lincoln turned back to the kid. “The guns are put away.”

The kid raised his chin and cocked his head, peering past the dark hair covering his eyes. Large brown eyes, filled with despair, sucker punched Lincoln in the gut. He surveyed the vampire’s sharp cheekbones and jawline, sunken eyes and hollowed cheeks, and… the reddest lips that contrasted with his pale skin. Blood rushed to Lincoln’s groin, and his cock pressed against his jeans. Shit, it was forever since he’d gotten hard on sight. A warm mouth on his dick was generally required before anything stirred below—the hazards of a fuckton of one-night stands and a dead heart.

Damn.

“When was the last time you ate?”

The young vampire stared at Lincoln, and then, as if he’d decided to trust him, answered. “T-ten days ago.”

After ten days the kid should have been attacking every vein in sight, even if he’d never drank straight from a human. He had a shitload of self-control, especially with blood pooling on the floor next to him.

Lincoln looked to Max, who didn’t need for Lincoln to tell him how dire the situation was. He released the kid. He swayed but stayed upright. Max pulled off his jacket and rolled up his sleeve. It was dangerous to allow a starving vampire near a vein, but someone had to feed the kid right then. Lincoln couldn’t be the donor, even if he wanted. He’d have to make sure the guy didn’t drain Max. Of everyone on his team, Max was the most levelheaded. No doubt he was the one who called in the level-one situation. Lincoln trusted Max with his life, and vice versa.

Lincoln tentatively set his hand on the vampire’s shoulder. Power, immense and nearly uncontained, emanated from the kid, unlike anything Lincoln had ever felt. His cock hardened further. Those brown eyes. Fuck.

Lincoln cleared his throat. “I’m sure I don’t have to explain the effects of blood deprivation on a vampire. You’re already past the point where synthesized blood will help.”

The kid’s brown eyes widened, and he shook his head violently. “N-no. I can’t!”

That fear came from only drinking blood from a cup his entire life. Didn’t mean he couldn’t drink from the vein. The thought terrified most vampires who’d never sank their fangs into flesh. Lincoln recalled his first bite at a certified bite club his uncle brought him to. He was sixteen. Humans desiring the bite were able to meet vampires who wanted to drink their blood. Lincoln had been scared shitless. The wrong placement of fangs or sudden jerk of the donor could severely injure the Non and possibly kill them.

For Lincoln, drinking from a human woke some primordial, animalistic need. The human blood was like an aphrodisiac. Without even taking his cock out of his pants, he’d orgasmed, same as the Non guy he chose. That first bite unearthed a need Lincoln was unable to ignore, bringing him back to the clubs every couple of months.

“I know you’ve probably never done this before, but it’s not that hard. Feel for the pulse with your tongue. That’s where you want to place your fangs. Bite down firmly, but don’t go too fast. Stop once the blood starts to pool on the skin. Pull out and suck.”

Restless movements from his team told Lincoln they’d probably never seen a vampire bite someone as well.

“You’re going to feed him? What the fuck? He broke the law!”

Leave it to Dennison to object. Lincoln clenched his jaw and ignored the rant. Max raised his wrist to the kid’s mouth, but his reaction surpassed fear alone. He yanked against the hands holding him. Terror-filled eyes were glued to Max’s wrist. A war of need and fear raged in the depths of the kid’s eyes.

“I can’t! Get away from me!” The kid gasped and fought for breath as if some horrible monster stalked toward him. “You… d-don’t… under… s-stand!” His adrenaline-fueled state increased his strength as he tried to escape the wrist before him. He was going to hurt himself.

His useless fight annoyed Lincoln. “Calm down, kid! No one’s going to hurt you.”

“Put him out of his misery,” Dennison muttered.

The vampire’s struggle ceased as his entire body stiffened. His eyes flashed white as they rolled up into his head. He slumped forward and was out cold.

“Dammit, lower him to the floor.”

Max and Taylor laid the kid on his stomach. That’s when Lincoln saw the symbol tattooed at the base of his spine.

“Fuck me!”

Things had gone from bad to worse in a split second.

Bonus excerpt from the new story, A Chance for Us: New Vampire Justice Book 2

Release Date: November 11, 2016

~Max and Justin’s Story~

Justin gasped in a breath. Fuck, he’d done it again. Max would be pissed when he got there. And he’d come because he was the only one who could help. Then he’d see that Justin had gotten lost in his head again, lost in the nightmares of his past. Max would want to know why he hadn’t used the techniques from his therapist Walt. Justin grunted. They never worked. But it didn’t matter. He was too far gone to get back on his own. At that point, only physical pain or being wrapped up, practically restrained until he couldn’t move, would center him and bring back to reality.

Great, there was Doc talking with Carson. Doc’s solutions always came in the form of a needle. Drug him. Justin banged his forehead against his knees. Maybe he could bang hard enough to knock himself out, or maybe have a stroke and become a vegetable like Tommy Dennison upstairs. Then Max wouldn’t be burdened with a dependent head case. Max was always pushing Justin to be more independent, rely on himself more. Max, who’d rescued Justin, taken him in, held him whenever he thought he’d shake apart, helped as Justin relearned to take care of himself, his cooking, his laundry, and, hell, even to go outside without falling to pieces. Max’s bid to stop Justin from relying on him was like a knife to his chest.

Justin had fallen in love with Max. Max who was caring, attentive, unflappable. Justin had fallen in love with his crooked grin, his wavy blond hair with the sides that always escaped his ponytail, the way his glasses were always askew, his quiet and contemplative demeanor. Justin believed Max didn’t see a potential lover in him, but a needy little brother. Despite being only two years younger than Max, Justin was still that sixteen-year-old, but now in a man’s body. He couldn’t make it through a day without somehow clinging to Max. What kind of life was that for a straight man who wasn’t even related to Justin?

His chest tightened and pushed his rate of breathing higher. Something horrible was going to happen, and it wouldn’t be his own death as he hoped. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, and was going to lose it big-time. Again.

About Jake C Wallace

Jake C. Wallace loves anything paranormal, supernatural, loaded with possessions, demons, vampires, monsters - even the human ones - and things that go bump even in the day. Add in a complex plot that has more twists and turns than a drunken snake and it's a winner. Jake has loved writing since he was a wee lad, but he took a break for marriage, kids, college, and another kid (in that order). A few years ago, he picked up his pen...AKA laptop...and ventured into gay romance. At night and on the weekends, Jake writes about all things men, believing there is nothing hotter than two men finding and loving one another, whether for a night or forever. An avid reader of M/M romance, Jake loves a good twist of a plot, HEA, HFN, or tragic ending. He also writes what his bestie calls HUNK (Happy Until the Next Kidnapping).

Jake has released six novels, many short stories, and has four novels scheduled for release from Dreamspinner in the next nine months - two repubs and two new stories. Besides writing, Jake is a behavior analyst who works with individuals with autism and behavior problems. He is owned by a beautiful partner, three kids, two grandchildren, two dogs and one cat. He lives in Northern Vermont.

Website: www.jakecwallace.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jcwallacebooks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jcwallacebooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7237038.J_C_Wallace

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jcwallace

Thank you, Jake, for stopping by my blog! See you soon, my friend!

Okay everyone, click on this link to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. Good luck!!

Alexa Land

Monday, October 31, 2016

Winner!

Friday, October 28, 2016

Reader Appreciation Week

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Welcome Jake C. Wallace & the Dirty Dozen Blog Hop!