Thursday 3 January 2013

Tush's Ten with MJ O'Shea & Moonstruck #Interview


Here's another dose of triple happy, 'cos I'm pleased to welcome the sparkly Mj O'Shea to my blog!








1. Who are you, and where do you come from?

Hi Tush! I'm MJ:) (aka MJ O'Shea) I live right near Seattle in Tacoma, Washingon.



2. What inspires you?

Music for sure for sure… then real life situations, art, lots of different things!



3. Describe your writing style in three words:

Casual, fun, quick-witted.



4. What's next in store for you?

Hehe...who likes boy bands?  Cause that's what I'm working on! I love writing about music and since we've seemed to enter the year of the boy band, I thought I'd join the party:) The book is called Catch My Breath. I don't have much to say about it yet but I've been having a great time working on it for sure! (And reliving my teenage crush on Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys <3) 



5. Read any good book(s) lately?

Hmmmm. With the holidays etc, I have to admit I haven't read anything for a bit. I did beta Soul Magic for Poppy Dennison and that was great:) I think that's coming out later this spring.







'Moonstruck' (#3 in ‘Lucky Moon’ series)

1. ‘Moonstruck’ is the third installment in your band series, ‘Lucky Moon’. What inspired the idea for this particular story?

We always wanted Em to find his happily ever after since he was so supportive of our other boys. And we knew that he'd always wanted Surya...so we figured it would be nice of us to give him the man he was so in love with. The rest just kind of happened :)



2. The story involves mainly musicians, and those in the music industry. How important is music to you? Could you live without it?

OMG NO! Lol. You should've seen my face. Panic.

 As far as the rest of the question, music is pretty much the most important thing to me other than my friends and family. It's part of my everyday life and has been since I picked up my first instrument at two years old. I have no idea what I'd do without it… and I'll probably keep writing about it in one way or another as long as I can still write!



3. You write as a team, as well as solo projects. How long have you been writing together, and how did your writing relationship begin?

Our writing relationship began actually with Moonlight Becomes You — the first book in this series. Piper had a great idea but didn't want to write it alone, I came in, we changed some things around and our boys were born.  We've been writing together since I would guess late 2010, although I honestly don't remember when we started that book. As soon as we finished that, we knew we wanted to write Nicky's book and so on and so on...



4. As a story comes in three parts, and this is a music story, pick me three music videos that reflect how you feel the story goes.

This is the first thing that came to mind. Haha. I tried to talk myself out of it...but alas. So the beginning.   Nine Inch Nails. Closer.


*Note for Tush: I tried to find the radio edit but couldn't. *

[I have no problem with the long version! ;p -Tush]







 Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight


 




Snow Patrol - You're all I Have





I usually think about book music a lot:) I just went with instinct for emotions in the book:)



5. If your book was a music video, how would it go?

Well, lol. There IS a music video in the book:) See there's this subway and….
Hmmm I don't actually know. I'm picturing a park and two people in the park running around in a crowd trying to find each other and getting frustrated and panicky and they finally find each other in the end?

Don't know why I said that. It just seems to fit:)



~
 
Thanks for playing Tush's Ten!



Find me on Facebook as M.J. O'Shea!




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And look out for more from Piper, Mj & Tush on a special music blog tour in February & March! :)

Wednesday 2 January 2013

Tush's Ten with Piper Vaughn & Moonstruck #Interview

I'm double --nay, triple!-- pleased to welcome one half of my fave writing duo to my blog, Piper Vaughn!  *woot woot* *confetti*












Tush's Ten Questions – Piper Vaughn



1. Who are you, and where do you come from?

They call me Piper, and I hail from Illinois, USA. I live about half an hour outside of Chicago. :)



2. What inspires you?

Really, just about anything. Movies, books, music, news articles, something I might see on the street or the subway or in the airport. I think inspiration comes from all things.



3. Describe your writing style in three words:

Simple, sweet, sexy (I hope :P)



4. What's next in store for you?

Currently working on a few ideas, and can’t wait to share!



5. Read any good book(s) lately?

I have, in fact. The last book I read and loved was an M/M fantasy by Kim Fielding called “Brute.”







'Moonstruck' (#3 in ‘Lucky Moon’ series)

1. ‘Moonstruck’ is the third installment in your band series, ‘Lucky Moon’. What inspired the idea for this particular story?

The idea for writing about Em and Surya started in the first book, “Moonlight Becomes You,” sort of as a fluke. MJ put in one of her chapters that Em was crushing on Surya and we kind of just rolled with it. Eventually, once both Shane and Nick had stories, we decided to revisit Em and Surya to tie it all together.



2. The story involves mainly musicians, and those in the music industry. How important is music to you? Could you live without it?

Vital! I listen to music for hours at a time almost every day. It would be really hard to survive without it. As the Nietzsche quote goes, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” I already have a tattoo that represents one of my favorite musicians, Ed Sheeran, and I have plans on getting another soon that signifies my love of music in general. :)



3. You write as a team, as well as solo projects. How long have you been writing together, and how did your writing relationship begin?

I believe we started writing together in February of 2011, so this coming February will make 2 years. MJ and I met in the M/M Romance Group over on Goodreads and got closer when we both became part of the same critique group as its founding members, along with a few other people. I brought up the idea of co-authoring and MJ seemed amenable to the idea. We were in the midst of planning a spy series when I was struck with the idea for “Moonlight Becomes You” (the inspiration for the story was actually an episode of “South Park”). I told MJ about the idea, she liked it, and the rest is history.



4. As a story comes in three parts, and this is a music story, pick me three music videos that reflect how you feel the story goes.

Hmmm. This is hard. LOL. And of course, these are all me. I’m sure MJ’s would be totally different. :P


“One More Night” – Maroon 5 – Surya and Em don’t have a volatile relationship as depicted in this song, but it’s more the idea of the song—having this person who you can’t resist and wishing you could rid yourself of the desire for them by giving in to the idea of “just one more time.” And obviously, that tends to backfire.






“One Thing” – One Direction – I know you’re probably laughing, Tush, but I’ve been on a 1D kick for months and I listened to them a lot while writing “Moonstruck.” This song is cutesy and pretty far from hardcore rocker, but it reminds me of Surya’s feelings about Em. :)





“Look After You” – The Fray – This one is kind of self-explanatory, but it applies to both Em and Surya.






(And this might be the most random list ever, but…well, that’s me in a nutshell. LOL.)



5. If your book was a music video, how would it go? Talk me through it ;p

Oh, jeez. You’re trying to kill me. LOL.

Um…okay.

It would start out with a couple of guys in the midst of a steamy sex session. Then one would sneak off while the other is asleep. They’d see each other again, and at first they’re shown trying to avoid each other. Then a confrontation, which leads to a montage of them slowly getting comfortable with each other and becoming friends, then lovers. Add in some drama and one having to tuck tail and apologize and end it with a sweet kiss. That would about sum it up. :)




Thanks for playing Tush's Ten!

Buy “Moonstruck” from Loose ID now! (Also available at ARe, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other e-tailers.)




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Check back here tomorrow (3rd January) for MJ's post! :)

Tuesday 1 January 2013

#NextBigThing #Crucifox #FlashFiction - The Jo Ho!








#NextBigThing  #Crucifox  #FlashFiction 'The Jo Ho'

Thanks to SJ Frost for tagging me in these WIP questions! Here's mine...

WIP Questionnaire


1. What is the working title of your book?

Crucifox #1: ‘The Green Eyed Monster’.



2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

This was supposed to be a short story. It’s grown into a series. The ideas and experience behind this series is my life on steroids. And a bigger budget, hah.



3. What is the genre of the book?

Contemporary romance, perhaps. Humour, definitely. Although not everyone likes British humour. I’d strongly suggest reading one of my free stories to get a taste for it. 
(See below for a Crucifox freebie!)



4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Well, they’re not actors, but the closest examples I’d like for the lead protagonists are singers and models. Jethro Cave would make a beautiful Sky, and (a young) Ian Astbury would make a perfect Brandon. 



5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Brandon wants Sky as a lover, yet Sky only wants Brandon as a singer in his band.
(Dun dun duhn!)



6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency/publisher?

Storm Moon Press. Release in March 2013.



7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Hah! Don’t ask… The original MS was novella length, I then rewrote it into novel length. I’ve been working on this particular story for a long time, since 2011. I can’t wait to shoot it off into the world.



8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I love band-fic M/M books, so hopefully fans of those titles will like this series. It’s very British, and very music driven. Music fans, and rock fans, will hopefully like it. 



9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My life working with bands. This series is part tribute and part revenge to that chapter of my life.



10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Guys who have long hair and wear eyeliner. Goths, rockstars. British humour. Ecstasy sex. 

Yep, I think that about sums it up! ;p

Check out my special freebie below; an outsider's glimpse into the Crucifox band house. And what better outsider than a Jo Ho? 

(Note: for non-Brits, 'Jo Ho' is a term we use for those annoying Jehovah's Witnesses who come God-bothering at our doorsteps early in the morning. This is my revenge on Jo Ho's everywhere.)

~




The Jo Ho


A Crucifox Prequel


© Melanie Tushmore 2013
All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, nor transmitted, nor translated into a machine language, without the written permission of the author.





This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real locales or real people are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, localities or persons, either living or dead, are entirely unintentional.

~





London, 1987

Monday

Straightening my tie, I rang the doorbell. It didn’t make a sound, not that I could hear. I rang it again. This time a voice near the window called out.
“’old yer ‘orses!”
Typical south London accent. I braced myself on the doorstep, preparing to smile. I’d had the briefing from my superiors, and knew all about this house. So far, it had proved a tough nut to crack; not even so much as a ‘thank you’ on previous visits. I’d heard all the horror stories, and prayed that the one about the hairy, shirtless biker answering the door weren’t true.
The door opened, and I held my breath. When I saw who it was, I exhaled in relief. It wasn’t a huge biker, it was a thin, young man, much like myself. Except, in place of short hair and a smart suit, this chap wore all black, and had scruffy black hair to his shoulders. He looked at me calmly.
“Yes, mate?”
“Have you heard about Jehovah and Jesus Christ?” I said, all in a rush because I was nervous.
His eyebrows raised, and his mouth quirked to the side in a half smile. “No, thanks, mate.”
As he started to shut the door, I shoved a pamphlet on God’s Kingdom at him. “If I may give you this?” Blessedly, he accepted the pamphlet, muttering a reply, then he promptly shut the door in my face.
Well, that wasn’t so bad. At least it wasn’t the biker.

*

Tuesday

I couldn’t say why I was back here, at 29 Spring Row, Balham. I had other streets on my list to visit. Houses where I might be invited inside for a cup of tea, which on a cold day would be very welcome. Nice little old ladies who’d offer me a biscuit, and politely listen to me tell them about God, nodding their heads as if humouring me. Which sometimes made me wonder if I really was on the right track after all.
Sighing, I straightened my tie, and rang the doorbell to number 29.
It wasn’t the fault of anyone that I was starting to doubt myself lately. It was probably the fault of the weather; miserable and grey for weeks. If I could only get inside this house, talk to those young men, it would certainly impress my superiors at the Jehovah’s temple.
I smiled to myself. Yes, that would brighten my day no end.
Except, there was no answer at the door. Checking my watch, I wondered if they were even out of bed. It was nearly eleven in the morning. I rang the doorbell again, and waited. Other stories from past visits to this house said that the occupants kept women inside. As guests or brain-washed hostages, no one knew. Mrs. Chuter, our leader at the temple, was suitably worried for the safety of these women, another reason that number 29 had been on our list frequently.
The house seemed quiet. Usually there were sounds from the ground floor – voices, loud music – but this morning everything was silent. I tried the bell once last time. Third time lucky. Just as I thought I’d have to come back later, the door swung open. I was so surprised, my words faltered. As I took in the person at the door – the height, the build, the pretty face and long, dark hair – I rejoiced, thinking, it’s a woman! Then I took a closer look, noting the stubble around the jawline, the flat chest in a thin tank top. The aggressive scowl on the face as he stared at me.
Oh.
“Um, um, I…h-have you heard about Jehovah and J-Jesus Christ?” I stammered, hearing the tremble in my voice.
His nostrils flared as he breathed in, eyes fixed on me. I could almost feel the irritation radiating off him. “You woke me up for this?” he demanded, in a voice much deeper than I’d expected. “Get off my bloody doorstep!”
The door slammed shut. I was left alone on the porch, pamphlet held limply in my wrist.
That didn’t go too well.
I wondered if I should wait, just to make sure… Make sure what? That there wasn’t a woman inside, being held captive? Maybe Mrs. Chuter had been wrong. Maybe she’d mistaken that man for a woman?
Shaking my head, I turned around to leave. Maybe I could try again tomorrow.

*

Wednesday

My hand shook as I rang the doorbell. I anticipated no welcome now, not after yesterday, but I had to try again. It was well after lunch, and this time I could hear sounds from inside the house. Whatever they were doing, they were playing music inside. The bass thrummed and occasionally rattled the old window panes in their frames.
It took several rings before anyone answered. As it opened, I winced slightly, in case it was the same man from yesterday.
Oh.
It wasn’t him. My eyes travelled up the long, thin frame of a new person, and the first thing I noticed was the hair. Sleek black, shining almost blue in the daylight, so it had to be dyed that colour, hanging well past the shoulders, and exploding out at the top like a matted bird’s nest.
Man? Woman? I gazed into a striking face, the dark eyes shaded with shimmery eye shadow, long lashes clumped with mascara. Lips painted bright red split in a broad smile, and the dark eyes sparkled.
“Aye, nice suit, man. What’s the occasion?”
Definitely a man, then. Deep, booming voice. A Scottish accent, too. He leaned against the doorframe, folded long thin arms across his chest, and grinned at me.
“I, um, h-have you heard of Jehovah…?” I offered my pamphlet to him.
Amazingly, he accepted it. After a cursory glance, he ripped the pamphlet in two, tossed both pieces away, then refolded his arms and grinned at me again. He didn’t look angry, which I was relieved about. His eyes held too much mischief for that.
“Anyhin else?” he asked, his grin egging me on.
“Well…w-would you like to hear about Jehovah and Jesus Christ?”
He chuckled, low and deep. “No,” he said, gesturing at himself. “Do I look like I go to church, man?”
I noticed his fingernails were painted red. “Um…well…we have a temple, actually.”
“Oh, aye?” He seemed pleasantly surprised. “Is that right? Any ritual sacrifices?”
Because of his accent, I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly. “Pardon?”
“Or is that just on weekends?” He winked one make-up ringed eye at me. His smile never faltered.
“Um…well, no,” I said.
The front door pulled open further, and the same man from yesterday appeared. He had to be at least a foot shorter than the Scot, yet the way he pushed himself in front, glare fixed on me, spoke volumes about who was head of this household.
You,” he said to me, and again I was surprised by the masculine tone of his voice. “Piss off, before I get the hose.” He turned to the Scot, shoving him back inside the house. “Brandon, stop talking to bloody Jo Ho’s.”
The taller man waved goodbye to me, before his companion slammed the door shut. I heard their voices behind it, bickering like aggravated children. I was so stunned, I hadn’t moved an inch. Then movement against the ground floor window caught my eye. The ratty old curtain was yanked back, revealing the colossal form of a thick-set, hairy man. And his glare was directed at me.
Well, at least he wasn’t shirtless, like the horror stories had said.
Before he could get to the door, I did an about turn and hurried away, barely closing the front gate behind me. As I walked briskly down the road, my mind replayed images of those strange young men, with their long hair and make-up. They certainly weren’t women. The question was, would my superiors at the Jehovah’s temple believe me?
Probably not. Not unless they saw it for themselves. At the thought of Mrs. Chuter recoiling in horror at seeing a man in make-up, I couldn’t help a smile.




Fin
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The first Crucifox novel will be released in March 2013 with Storm Moon Press

Check out more free stories at www.melanietushmore.co.uk

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 I'm tagging the lovely Babes in Boyland and the lovely Mr. RJ Dennis to do the Next Big Thing blog post ;p