I loved your Harvest series when I first read it on Lit
and am so glad to see it finally being published. You were kind enough to beta
for me in my writing infancy, and I really appreciate it.
I’m so very excited to be here,
promoting my Rough Boys trilogy. The final novel, Rough Boys: Revenge, will be available February 14th,
and to celebrate, I’ve made the first novel, Rough Boys: Runaway, free. I’ll also be giving away free copies of
either Rough Boys: Redemption or Rough Boys: Revenge to lucky commenters
on this blog.
As my first published novel, Rough Boys holds a place dear to my
heart. I fell in love with my characters while I was writing the story, and the
editing process has been a sweet trip down memory lane.
Most people’s favorite character
is Ty, and I have to agree I have a strong affinity for him. He is so naïve and
innocent in the beginning, and one of the things that is bittersweet in the
story is that he loses that. But that is life—we can’t all stay a sweet
seventeen year old forever, nor would we want to. He loses something, but I
think he gains much more.
The character who I identify most
closely with is Sean (I even have the wild red hair). Sean wears his heart on
his sleeve and I tend to hide mine, but many of his other traits, both good and
bad, I have in common.
I think the story is a little
different from most of the M/M romance novels I’ve read, but it’s really hard
for me to judge my own work. Other people’s stories? —No problem. I can tell
you I like this one slightly better than that one and exactly why. But my own
work? No idea if it’s any good or not. It’s like looking in a mirror. Some days
I think I look great, especially for my age, and some days I think I look
horrible. So, instead of giving my opinion, I’ll reflect back some of the
things my readers said while I was posting chapter-by-chapter on Literotica.
Firstly, a warning: there is some
pretty extreme violence in the story. It’s not throughout the story, but few of
my own friends couldn’t make it past the first chapter, which I think might be
the worst (I just throw readers right into the thick of things). I got comments
such as this one:
When
I started reading the first chapter of Rough Boys, I didn't finish it...the
torture was not only terrifying, but very graphic (congratulations on that). However,
for the rest of the day all I could think about was Ty! I just had to keep reading and find out how
things turned out for him. I can honestly say that I ended up reading [the
whole novel]. Most incredible story I've ever read! I feel like I experienced
every range of emotions through your characters.
I was overwhelmed with some of
the comments I got about Rough Boys. There were at least three people who told
me my story gave them the courage to come out, in comments like this one:
All
I can say is that I have no words to express how deeply drawn in and attached
to the characters in your story I have become. This is hands down the best and
most influential series I have ever read. This story gave me the courage to
actually come out to my best friend and his wife.
And this one:
You
have made me realize some things about myself that I think I always knew, but I
had never admitted them to myself. In short you are an inspiration to me and
I'm sure lots of other people.
These comments absolutely floored
me, because I was looking at the story as more of a soap opera—not something to
be taken so seriously, but obviously some people did.
The drug use was a subject of
controversy, and I certainly made plenty of readers angry because I was “making
Ty use drugs.” As many complainers as I had, I had defenders, however, and in
the end most readers seem to have forgiven me. I don’t think I could have
realistically written it any other way. Part of me is on those pages.
Comments like this one, however,
almost broke my heart:
I'm
sorry, but all the drug use, is getting too much, you seem to be more focused
on drugs and turning a homeless teen into a drug addict than anything else, I
won't be reading anymore of this story, which I thought was brilliant up til
this chapter.
But then comments like this one
helped make up for it:
Have
just spent last 26 hours reading [most of the novel].
I
have 20 or so years hands on experience handling 2 junkies in my life, I was
amazed to read the junkies side of the whole situation, all the tricks,
manipulation, anguish and distrust caused is clearly stated in your story. I
enjoyed the drug users side of the confronting and turmoil regarding drugs, the
inner fights, self worthlessness, and love within themselves. Having never used
drugs I have learned all these things by reading in this story the drug users
perspective taught me much understanding…
And:
I
think I was one of your harshest critics especially when it came to Ty's
initial and escalating drug use, along with his abuse. You challenged social
morals and introduced us to lifestyles we weren't all together
familiar/comfortable with. Sometimes, it was a tough read. However, I'm glad I
stuck it out. Great job and thank you for allowing your characters and readers
the HEA we were rooting for.
And yes, I’m a firm believer in
HEA. I’m not sure how often it happens in real life, but as real and gritty as
things might get sometimes in my stories, I am writing fiction. And because
it’s fiction, I can make the ending however I want. And I want an HEA.
Book Blurb
A runaway, a dreamer, a gorgeous
femme … are they rough enough to survive the brutal city?
Ty is only seventeen when he
flees in terror from his homophobic father, but surviving on the streets is
more difficult than he could possibly have imagined. When bad choices send Ty
spiraling toward ruin, can he be saved by love?
Dani leaves home with stars in
his eyes but his feet on the ground, fully expecting his road to success to be
long and difficult. What he doesn't expect is to fall head-over-heels in love
with a gorgeous, self-centered rock star. Can Dani find happiness with the
arrogant Englishman or will his heart be broken?
Kaeden is banished by his
conservative Asian parents when he comes home with extreme hair, false
eyelashes, and glittering fingernails. He naively accepts a position with a
male escort service, dreaming of fancy parties and wealthy men. Instead he
finds himself playing Russian roulette with his heart.
This gritty urban romance follows
the lives of these three young men as they forge strong bonds of friendship in
spite of, or maybe because of, the challenges they face.
Publisher’s Notes: This story
contains content which may be offensive to some readers: extreme violence,
substance abuse, offensive language, and detailed descriptions of M/M sex. No
underage sex.
Excerpt
from Rough Boys: Runaway
“Fuck you!” Ty hissed through
gritted teeth as his rage got the better of his judgment.
“What did you say?” His father
was in his face, blue eyes blazing.
A cold wave of fear crashed over Ty,
washing away his anger. He tried desperately to pull his father’s attention away
from what he’d just said. “I’m almost eighteen, Dad. I’m old enough to make
decisions about my own hair, for God’s sake!”
“That discussion is over.” His
father’s voice was tight with barely controlled anger. “What I want to know is
what you just said to me.”
“I think you know what I said.
I’d rather not say it again.” Ty knew he sounded like a snot. Why do I
always bait him? he wondered.
His father’s jaw clenched. “Boy,
you need to learn some respect!” He loomed over his son, his paunch almost
touching Ty’s taut stomach.
“You can’t beat respect into me,”
Ty said, tilting his chin up defiantly. “You have to earn it!” Why the hell
can’t I keep my fool mouth shut and pretend to respect him?
“You little shit!” His father
grabbed him by the collar with both hands and shook him.
Ty clenched his jaw to keep his
teeth from rattling. He has no right to
shake me like this! Fury exploded within him. “Fuck you!” This time he
yelled the words in his father’s face. Twisting suddenly, he managed to pull out
of the older man’s grip. He tried to duck under his arm, but his dad grabbed
him by the shoulders and shoved him back into the kitchen counter.
His father drew back his fist and
let it fly toward Ty’s face. It seemed like the fist came at him in slow
motion, but he still couldn’t avoid it. The punch slammed into his eye,
cracking his head into the cupboard behind him.
As Ty’s vision clouded, he
gripped the counter to keep from going down. His injured eye immediately
started to stream tears. Pain fueled his anger, causing another blinding
flare-up. He swung at his father, clipping him in the jaw with a hard knuckle. Ty
felt a jolt travel from his fist up his arm and he registered shock. This was
the first time he’d ever struck his father.
Oh
shit!
Ty’s dad had three inches and at
least seventy pounds on him. With a roar, he grabbed him by his hair, dragged
him forward several feet, and smashed his face into the doorjamb. Ty’s cheek
and nose met the pine with a sickening crunch. He fought to keep his feet under
him, blinking rapidly, trying to see through the red haze of pain. Blood gushed
from his nose, splattering onto the hardwood floor.
“Richard!” He heard his mother’s
cry of shocked protest. She would not save him. She never did.
His father had a death grip on
his hair and was on a mission. He dragged him out of the kitchen, down the
hall, and up two flights of stairs in their rambling, hundred-year-old house.
Ty stumbled, trying to keep up,
wishing he had cut his hair now that his father seemed to be pulling it out by
the roots. He didn’t try to fight his father; he knew he couldn’t win.
Rage consumed Richard Iverson.
The voice in his head screamed at him in fury. (The fuckin’ little shit hit you! That’s what comes from being too soft
on him. He needs to know his place. You need to teach him some respect. You
need to show him how to be a man.)
He was puffing by the time he
reached the top of the stairs, dragging his son behind him. The boy had a way
of making the voice in his head go crazy.
(He’s
far too pretty for a boy. Boys should not be pretty.) With his beautiful eyes,
impossibly long lashes, and pale, smooth skin, his son looked just like his
wife. To make matters worse, he was too small. He was never going to make it to
six feet. He would be lucky if he made it to five-eleven.
Richard dragged his son into his
bedroom and pushed him onto his narrow bed.
“You really asked for it today,
Tiberius. Take off your pants,” he ordered.
Ty hated to be called by his full
name and his dad knew it, but he was not about to argue about that now. It was
time for damage control.
“I’m sorry, Dad! I didn’t mean to
hit you.”
(He
doesn’t mean that apology), the
voice said. (He’s just trying to get out
of a beating. He is weak, and you’re weak too for letting him get like this.)
“You heard what I said.” Richard’s
tone was calm, almost normal. From the speed at which his son flipped onto his
stomach and pulled his pants down, the boy was obviously not fooled. A satisfied
smile curled the corners of the older man’s mouth.
Ty’s nose was bleeding all over
his dark blue comforter. He panted around gritted teeth as he waited for the
lashes. This was getting to be a much too familiar scene. Why does he hate me so much? Ty wondered for the thousandth time. The
first strike landed with a clink, accompanied by much more pain than he
expected.
“Fuck!” he yelled, twisting
around and catching the belt in his hands as it came down for the second lash. He hit me with the buckle end of the belt! “What
the hell?” he screamed, clutching the belt in self-defense. He hung on for dear
life.
His father’s face contorted. His
mouth twisted. His eyes burned. With a cry of demented rage, he slammed his
fist into Ty’s mouth, splitting his lip.
Ty’s head snapped back. His grip
on the belt loosened, and his father snatched it out of his hands. Ty cringed,
waiting for the next barrage. Instead his father stormed out of the room,
locking the door behind him.
Thank
God! He must have realized he was out of control.
Ty heard his mother’s voice,
high-pitched—almost hysterical—asking questions. He didn’t hear his father’s
reply.
As soon as he started to calm
down, he was flooded with sensation: his face throbbed, his head pounded, and his
stomach churned.
Why
is he so controlling? Why can’t I keep my hair three inches long? Why the hell
does he care? It
had been such a stupid argument. “That’s two-and-a-half inches too long!” his
father had decreed. “You’re getting a haircut on Monday!”
“No, Dad,” he’d replied calmly.
“I think I…”
“This is not a topic for
discussion!” His father had cut him off. “I want it high and tight by the time
I get home on Monday.” He had turned to leave the room—conversation over.
That’s when Ty’s temper had gotten
the best of him and he’d let out the “Fuck you!” In retrospect, with his
swollen nose making it hard to breathe, he should have just gone along with the
haircut again. He wondered if he’d be able to talk his sister into sneaking
into the kitchen and getting him some ice for the swelling.
Suddenly his father charged back
into the room. Ty took one look at his expression and began to silently pray, Please,
God, don’t let him kill me!
Author
Bio
Jay Vaughn lives in sunny
Seattle, a clean, progressive city that is way too expensive for a writer’s income.
Therefore, Jay holds down a full-time, computer-industry day job, but writing
is her passion. It’s a hobby-gone-wild, so much so that her teenage kids accuse
her of being an addict.
Jay carries her laptop everywhere
and can often be seen combining other favorite activities with writing. For
example, you can find Jay sitting at a small table in the back of the gay bar
around the corner from her house, drinking wine and writing. Or waking up early
while camping, dragging out the laptop, and writing. Or writing in the truck on
the way to and from concerts, ski-trips, visits to relatives ... wherever.
Jay’s favorite genres are sci-fi,
fantasy, and M/M erotic romance. She discovered M/M quite by accident when she
was writing a traditional fantasy novel, and one of her characters ended up in
an all-male prison for a bit too long. Whoops!
Find out what Jay is working on
next at http://www.authorjvaughn.com
or drop her a line at jayvaughn@live.com.
She’d love to hear from you.
Twitter: @AuthorJVaughn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.vaughn.5836
Buy
Links (for the first book in the series)
Divergent Publishing: http://www.divergentpublishing.com/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/370318
Apple iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rough-boys-runaway/id741055212?mt=11
