LOL, okay, I'm gonna hush and let Haylet get on with it!
Thank you for hosting me today, MA Church!
I like to know a location (or at least vacation there once)
before I attempt to write a story based in the city. I’ve also made up
locations or took liberties with existing ones. When I read for pleasure, the little
facts in cities don’t matter to me. A big change like having Hollywood a city
in Arizona might make me tilt my head and frown, but for the sake of
storytelling, I’m willing to go with the flow.
I introduced some fantasy into reality for my first novel, Undercover Sins. The story is set in Las
Vegas but decided against setting it in too much of a reality since the plot
itself is a little fantasy. Water Waltz
and Fire Tango are both set in one
fantasy world created exclusively for the series. I built the land to best suit
the story. I took some inspiration from places I’ve visited, but nothing is set
in an alternative version of a real city.
Paid Leave is the
only novel I’ve written so far that’s set in a strict reality. (Due out May 3, 2013)
Paid Leave takes place in
Albuquerque, NM. As a NM native, this setting was very easy to write. The
police officer’s beat is my backyard, and I had a police ride along through the
command center in the story. I used my personal experience and my hometown to
ensure the reality in Paid Leave
stays true.
Even though the setting is Albuquerque and I used street
names from the area, I kept it vague. There are no turn by turn directions to
Officer Benji’s house or Neal’s café. Many of the calls Officer Benji Miller
takes during the book are calls I witnessed during my ride along. I took a
citizen police academy course through Albuquerque Police Department and gained
a lot of useful knowledge and helpful contacts.
The location of Paid
Leave was the easy part of research, and the citizen police academy was the
fun part of research. All together I put more time into Paid Leave than in other books but most of it came before the plot
or characters had formed. I had a great time writing this story and I believe
readers will enjoy Benji and Neal’s story.
Albuquerque police officer Benji Miller made the choice to
hide his sexuality and devote his life to his career. He guards his secret
carefully, believing he is protecting his job and happiness. Then, during a
routine traffic stop gone awry, he shoots a suspect to protect a young girl,
and his life spins out of control. A department-mandated paid leave rips away
the only distraction he had, and he has to deal with the unsympathetic media
who criticize the police department’s every move.
One day, needing to get out of the house, Benji walks into a
café, where he meets Neal McCoy—a gay man living without shame, unafraid to
speak his mind or stand up against prejudice. Benji quickly falls for Neal but
struggles to combine his new love interest and his career. With the media
threatening the careful illusion he’s built around himself, Benji can’t stand
the pressure.
Benji has to decide: sacrifice his happiness in the name of
his career and an easy life, or find the courage to give up the lonely
existence he knows and take a step into the unknown.
Paid
Leave Excerpt:
“I’m surprised to see the uniform. Are you trying to seduce me? I’ll
give you a hint—it worked.” Neal closed the door behind Benji and touched the
silver badge. “You showing up is enough seduction, though.”
Benji dropped his duffle bag and gave Lucky an ear rub. He knew he
wanted to see Neal but was still unsure how to act around him. Charles was
easier. Those visits happened in Benji’s home, and nothing mattered with
Charles. Benji never worried about how Charles would react but faced constant
fear of upsetting Neal. He didn’t know how to keep him but couldn’t imagine
letting him go.
“Sorry I didn’t return your call.”
“It’s okay. I figured you were busy. I was satisfied with the few text
messages.” Neal’s smile softened, and his hands retreated from Benji’s uniform.
Cop instinct told Benji he had lied. “I don’t want to be that fussy guy. Or
smothering.” He laughed at himself and flashed his dimples. “I could so smother you. And I would if you
wanted it.”
Benji smiled. Neal was perfect. He leaned down and kissed him,
surprised by how right it felt. He cradled Neal’s head and took his time
winding his tongue along Neal’s, enjoying every second Neal took to melt
against him. He tasted like coffee and chocolate. Two things Benji had never
believed could arouse him were fast becoming turn-ons.
“I’d like to change,” Benji whispered against Neal’s lips. He felt
Neal’s hands resting on his belt, adding the slightest bit of weight.
Neal left a kiss beneath Benji’s ear before stepping back. “Do I get to
watch?”
“If you want.” Benji started up the stairs with Neal and Lucky
following.
“Do you have your baton?”
“I do.”
“Put it in your car.” Neal stopped at the top of the stairs. “I’ve seen
enough porn to know where cops like to stick those, and that won’t be happening
in my house.”
“Why are you so well-versed in porn?” Benji asked, trying his best to
keep a straight face at Neal’s joke.
“I’m a gay man with an Internet connection. Why aren’t you more versed in porn?”
“There’s no coffee-shop-owner porn.”
Neal’s grin faded into a smile. “That might be the most romantic thing
you’ve said to me all night, Officer Miller.”
Romance wasn’t Benji’s forte, and he’d only meant it as a tease. He
felt out of his element with Neal, and the feeling only worsened when Neal took
whatever he said in a way he hadn’t meant. He almost corrected Neal’s
assumption to squash any belief he had a romantic bone in his body, but instead
he added another tease.
“Will it get me laid?”
“The uniform is a sure bet.” Neal cocked his head. “Whoever designed
your uniforms had an eye for a man’s ass. Turn around again.”
Benji rolled his eyes. The praise was not something he knew how to
accept. “If you’re so turned on, help me take it off.”
Pre-order
now from Dreamspinner Press (May 3, 2013 release date): http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3796
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Hayley B. James online:
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