It’s hard to believe that Chasing the Sun, the second book from the Provincetown Series releases next week. But it’s true! It’s almost here, and I’ll be doing something special on my blog next week in preparation for the big release on Wednesday, October 16.
Today, though, I thought I’d share some reading excepts from the first book When Love Takes Over. Some of you may have already seen these from my Dreamspinner Facebook chat, but for those of you that missed them, you’ll find them after the blurb.
Blurb:
Zach Kelly’s life is a shambles. His boyfriend of three years dumped him, and his writing career is going nowhere. On a whim, he heads to Provincetown, Massachusetts, to nurse his broken heart and figure out his next step. He’s expecting to find rest and relaxation on the sandy beaches of Cape Cod. Instead, Zach meets a hunky porn star during a chance encounter at a leather shop he mistakes as a place to buy a belt that is definitely not for whipping.
Van Pierce is smitten when shy and inexperienced Zach crashes through a shelf of fetish gear. Though Van’s got an insatiable appetite for men on and off the set, his porn persona, Hart Throb, hides a broken heart. He’s struggling to find the reality the porno set doesn’t offer, and Zach is fighting to find the fantasy that will set his writing on fire. The odd goofball and the suave beefcake may either find love amid Provincetown’s colorful pageantry where summer never seems to end—or more heartbreak than either can imagine.
I’m starting another semi-regularly series here on my blog. I seem to be doing that a lot lately, huh? Oh well, I eight-track a lot in life, so why not on my blog too?
But I thought it would be funny to talk about things from our collective pasts that were once popular or trendy and relive them here. It’s fun to travel down memory lane every now and then, right? At least that’s what I think.
And while I was searching for a topic for today, I happened upon a video of The Ambiguously Gay Duo from Saturday Night Live. Naturally, I dove right in (just like Ace or Gary would do) and watched a couple of episodes.
I forgot how damn funny they were. But even more than that, they were pioneering in their depiction of homosexuality on television in the 1990s. Sure, it was for comedic effect. The skits were primarily to satirize the often homosexualized relationship between Batman and Robin, but it was groundbreaking at the time.
I remember the first time I saw Ace and Gary in action I was spending the weekend visiting my mother, and we stayed up watching SNL like we used to when I was younger. Even though we both laughed, I couldn’t help but wonder: am I ambiguously gay too?
It turns out, there was nothing ambiguous about that. I just hadn’t accepted it yet. Oh well! I have now, and there’s nothing ambiguous about me any more.
So here is a video with Ace and Gary in action. I hope you enjoy it again as much as I did the first and twentieth time I watched.
We have finally arrived at the #1 spot on the countdown of my favorite musicals of all time, and what a ride it has been. I’ve shared some of my favorite numbers as well as my reasons why these faves of mine made the top 5.
For anyone who may have missed the countdown, here they are:
So, which musical took the covered #1 spot? Well, that would be
What is so great about Wicked that makes is my absolute favorite musical? Well, for one, it totally made me re-think the way I saw the characters from The Wizard of Oz. The plot and characterization of this “prequel” to the movie was so superbly and seamlessly done that it makes you question the characters we’ve all grown up with. Was the Wicked Witch of the West really wicked? Was the great and powerful Oz really a kind-hearted leader? And Glinda? Well, she is more than what she appears to be in the movie.
That’s what made this musical so awesome for me. Was that the only reason? Not even close.
The musical numbers are stunning, and Indina Menzel who played Elphaba (AKA the Wicked Witch) and Kristin Chenoweth (who plays Glinda) delivered awesome performances during their run on the show.
Now, for anyone who is unfamiliar with the plot of Wicked, here’s a brief synopsis:
After the citizens of Oz celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch descends to recount her past friendship with Elphaba. The two attended magic school together, and though they hated each other at first sight, they eventually became the best of friends. Together, they sought to figure out strange occurrences in Oz, where human like animals were reverting to animal form. Their journey takes them to Oz, where they must bottle a corrupt leader and where their friendship is tested.
And now, to my favorite part–sharing my favorite numbers from the show.
Elphaba and Glinda are assigned to be roommates. At first, they make each other’s lives hell, but after a touching moment of friendship, the two decide to bury the hatchet. Glinda even decides to teach the green-skinned oddball, Elphaba, how to be popular.
Shortly after journeying to Oz, where Elphaba is framed as a criminal, Elphaba decides to use her magic to reveal the corruption in Oz. She wants Glinda to go with her, but Glinda decides to stay behind. In perhaps the greatest number in all the shows I love, Elphaba embraces the “wicked witch” title in order to finally be free.
For Good
The end draws near for Elphaba’s and Glinda’s friendship. Elphaba has kidnapped Dorothy and her friends as a ploy, and Glinda tries to stop her. However, there’s no stopping the inevitable. The two say goodbye and express how much being friends has changed their lives.
So with that, I bring to close the countdown of my favorite musicals. I hope you’ve had as much fun as I have, and if you haven’t seen any of the musicals on my countdown, I urge you to give them a try. You’ll be glad you did.
I was so honored when Dean asked me to be a guest on his show called Gay Sex Cast, which is a podcast/Internet radio show that interviews gay fiction authors as well as gay porn models. Naturally, I said yes, and why not? I LOVE talking about gay sex. And gay porn models? Well, yum!
But then, the nerves set in. What was I going to say? How much of an ass was I going to make of myself? And why did I agree to do this?
I’m not used to synchronous interviews. I’m used to blog tours, where I have a chance to think about questions before answering them. How was I going to do this? Luckily, Dean helped be feel better about the interview, so I pulled on my big boy undies and dove right in.
We chatted about parties, romance/erotica, Provincetown, and my Provincetown Series. I have to admit: I had a lot of fun. Hopefully, you all think so too. Dean was a gracious host, and his two co-hosts, Benny Morecock from CockyBoy Studios and Jamie Sanders, a Helix exclusive model, were great guys to get to know.
If you are interested in hearing the interview, click here. Let me know what you guys think.
For those who don’t know, Gay Sex Cast in a podcast/Internet radio show that interviews gay fiction authors as well as gay porn models.
We’re up to #2 this week on my top 5 favorite musicals. Coming in at #5 was The Producers, #4 was Avenue Q, and last week’s #3 was Grease. Today, it’s time to talk about my #2 favorite musical
So why did Mamma Mia! make the #2 slot. Well, that’s easily summed up in one word–Abba! I have always been a big Abba fan. Their pop songs are fun and once you hear them, you just can’t get them out of your head. Not that you would want to anyway.
When I saw the show on Broadway, I had to stop myself from singing along with the cast and getting up and dancing. Luckily, the show had some audience interactive parts when doing so was encouraged. Naturally, I got right on up and shook everything I had.
For anyone who’s unfamiliar with the plot, here’s a brief synopsis:
Twenty-year old Sophie is getting married, much to her very free-spirited mother Donna’s chagrin. Sophie has no clue who her father is but upon searching through her mother’s things, she finds out that she has three potential would-be fathers. Naturally, she invites all three of her mother’s former beaus to the wedding, and they all accept. When the men arrive, Donna is floored. The resulting chaos is what the show is about as well as the Abba classics that are ingeniously and flawlessly written into the plot.
Which numbers were some of my faves? Well, here they are:
Honey, Honey
This number takes place after Sophie’s best friends arrive for the wedding. She fills in her besties about her mother’s past and what she’s done.
Mamma Mia
During this scene, Donna learns that her exes are on the island and staying at her hotel. She’s angry that they are there, but she’s also intrigued. She hasn’t really gotten over any of them, but there is one among them who she’s always been madly in love with.
Dancing Queen
This is one of the hilarious numbers during the show. Donna’s best friends try to cheer Donna up after she learns that her ex-beaus are in town. They want her to realize that she is still the carefree, strong girl she once was.
So there you have it. The Abba songs are really what make this musical for me. The film version wasn’t nearly as powerful as the Broadway version. Still, it was fun to watch. This is definitely one musical I can watch over and over. And believe me, I have!
