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Saying Goodnight!
Thanks to everyone for the comments today
I’ll be back for another release party on 5/24 with a new cover or 2 i’m sure!
LOL
The next two releases are Michael Mandrake’s Under the Gun 2, The Prince and the Penis for BL, and a personal book for my cousin who died almost two years ago.
I’ll tell you more on that day.
In the meantime, today’s winners are
Tawania for One Shot
and
Nancy for I Like Em Pretty
Congrats to you both and thanks again for all the lovely comments
Have an awesome night!
I Like Em Pretty M/M Hot Excerpt
And now, the m/m under my male pseudo Michael Mandrake! It’s the first in the N’awlins Exotica series. Here’s a little hot bit from Frankie and Kajika!
New Orleans is supposed to be the big easy. One night changes everything for Frankie Choteau.
New Orleans. A city rich in tradition, diversity, and on the comeback trail from hurricane Katrina. Francois “Frankie” Choteau, a resident of this town, a cop with a hot temper and low tolerance for bs. Kajika Fortier, a transplant from Oklahoma came here looking for a dream and unfortunately it’s turned into a nightmare. On a hot summer night, they meet and cross paths during a very difficult situation. Despite this, the attraction between them is evident and loneliness for both men is a fate worse than death. They’d both like a chance at happiness but will the circumstances and Frankie’s uneasiness prevent their happy ever after?
“Mhmm, I agree.” Frankie stopped him and pulled him back before pinning Kajika against the wall.
“Mhmm, hey.” He grinned and wrapped his arms around Frankie’s waist. “Ooh, detective, ya getting frisky?”
“Uh huh. I think I might want a little loving right now, chère. ‘Sides, it might add some spice to your performance.” Frankie buried his face into Kajika’s neck and lightly bit the side of his throat. He had to remind his man who he belonged to.
“Ohhhh… I love the way ya think, Frankie Choteau. Mhmmm…” Kajika slinked his leg around his calf and rubbed his crotch against Frankie’s. “Damn, Frankie, I want you right now, babe.”
“I want you too, love. You think the dressing room is still empty?”
“If not, we’ll make anyone in it become scarce!” Kajika collapsed his lips on top of Frankie’s and pushed two hands down the back of his jeans, gripping his thighs through his boxer briefs.
Frankie sighed into his embrace. His cock was hard as a rock right now, wanting to burst at the seams due to Kajika’s movements. Frankie usually didn’t like to chance having sex in a public place, but tonight he’d make an exception. He just couldn’t wait to have Kajika alone, and watching him dance would only prolong his suffering.
“Come on, Frankie. Want you right here and now.” Kajika guided him toward the dressing room.
Frankie followed, like the lovesick puppy he was. Kajika Fortier was his man, all his, and not going anywhere. They’d made the promise only a week earlier over a nice quiet dinner alone. They hoped to tie the knot and make it official someday. He wanted Kajika to have the Choteau name, along with his own. Perhaps, someday, they’d make that a reality.
“Shoo, shoo, ladies. Need like twenty minutes.” Kajika waived his hands and his coworkers patted him and Frankie on the back before heeding the word.
Kajika chuckled with the girls then closed the door behind them. “Now.” With a wicked gleam in his eye, he leaned against the door and pushed his pants down from his waist.
“Baby…” Frankie’s mouth gaped open while he unzipped his pants. “Damn, damn… sugah. Ya don’t know what kinda power you have over me.”
Kajika grinned wider, stepping out of his shoes and pants while he yanked his T-shirt from over his head. “Yeah, I do. Like magic, right? I know how to work this mojo, love.”
“Mhmm, ya sure do. Got me hook, line, and sinker.” Frankie ogled his man’s cock, erect, leaking precum from the slit. He pushed his pants down and fondled his own dick, toying with his swollen balls. His breaths quickened and adrenaline flowed through his veins. Frankie spat into his hand and stroked himself again to prepare.
“Mhmmm…” Kajika strolled over and shoved Frankie lightly into the chair behind him. Once he had him seated, he pulled Frankie’s trousers off, along with his shoes. “We’re skipping the foreplay, right?” Kajika straddled his lap, rubbing his pucker against Frankie’s swollen head.
Frankie gulped hard and repeatedly tapped his ass with his shaft. “Uh huh.”
Kajika leaned in, covering his lips with his own, sucking on his tongue and lightly nibbling on the tip.
Wanting to be inside him, he spread Kajika’s hips, attempting to get a good angle to penetrate him.
“Mhmm, yeah… right…ohhh…” Kajika found the right spot and lowered himself onto Frankie’s length. While he hugged Frankie around the neck and continued to kiss him passionately, he moved vertically on Frankie’s thickness, clasping his legs together to make it a tighter fit.
“Jesus, Kajika. Yes!” Frankie threw his head back and gripped his man’s ass in his hands. As much as he wanted to make it last, he could feel the pressure in his groin building quickly. Desiring Kajika to be closer, he pulled him in and buried his head into Kajika’s neck once more, sucking and biting, leaving a mark on his tanned flesh.
“Fuck!” Kajika loosened his ponytail and picked up the pace of his ride. “Oh God, Frankie, I’m so close, ohhh shit!”
Frankie didn’t say anything more. He had nothing coherent to add. Wanting his lips, he moved slightly in order for their mouths to connect once again. He met his movements, thrust for thrust, shoving his cock further inside of Kajika. Preparing for the explosion, he grabbed onto Kajika’s back and slowed his motion down while he held Kajika in place. Frankie’s eyes watched his man in ecstasy. In moments, Kajika’s cock spurted creamy white liquid on Frankie, and on Kajika’s own midsection. “Ooh Frankie… God, yes…”
Frankie followed not too long after, filling Kajika with warm cum. He massaged Kajika’s back muscles while he continued to push into him. The shudders began and he braced himself once again. “Damn, Kajika… whew…”
“Mhmm, that was amazing babe!” Kajika pressed his lips on top of his once more.
“Yeah, it was, baby. As always. You ready to entertain the masses, now?”
“Sure am, love. And I know just the routine I’m gonna do!”
* * * *
Just a side note. CBLS is having a book barrage for ILEP! You can win a box full of Nola/N’awlins Themed Goodies from the muses
It’s 2nd day is today. Visit the following blogs for your chance at winning
Good morning TRS
Good morning TRS!
Hope everyone has a great day.
I was just here right? Only days ago.
Still, I don’t mind taking the time to share some excerpts from my books.
Today, I’ll do a couple of hot ones from the latest: One Shot by Rawiya and I Like Em Pretty from Michael Mandrake
I’ll also do a giveaway. One of each to 2 lucky people.
Sound good?
Great.
I’ll be back with a R excerpt from Rawiya!
Take Me ~ Challenges Series ~ Megan Slayer (HOT EXCERPT)
Take Me by Megan Slayer 
BIN: 06265-02013
Word Count: 5K
Page Count: 20
Price: $2.49
Release Date: March 15, 2013
Editor: Katriena Knights
Cover Artist: Marteeka Karland
Copy Editor: Pat Sager
Line Editor: Lacey Savage
Genres: Erotic Short Story, Guilty Pleasures (Contemporary), Ménage, Bisexual and More, Dark Desire, Voyeurism and Exhibitionism
The phrase get me out of here just got a sexy makeover.
Talia wants nothing more than to shirk her duties on the set of her latest movie. Why? So she can be with her heartthrob husband, actor Ryker Thomas. But she never expected him to kidnap her… or did she?
Available at Changeling Press: http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2013
EXCERPT:
“Ten p.m., and all I want is a good fuck.” Talia Sanderson shrugged out of her robe and stepped into the steamy shower. Hot water sluiced over her body as she shook out her hair from the clip. She rubbed her hands over her body and groaned. Thirty-six days since she’d seen him and the same number of days since she’d had sex.
“I miss Ryker.” Ryker Thomas, voted sexiest man alive and the one man she gave up control to. She leaned against the shower wall and sighed. “Stupid tabloids. Let the guy have a life. He can be hot and in a relationship.”
She palmed her breast and gave her nipple a pinch. If Ryker were there, he’d have her against the wall and open to his inspection. She shivered. God, he loved to fuck in the shower… the bed, the wall… his trailer, her trailer… anywhere they could have sex. Touching herself didn’t have the same effect as being with her husband. He knew where to touch her and where to kiss to make her moan. She hurried to clean herself. Maybe he’d have the phone on so they could have phone sex or something. Anything was better than sitting in her trailer in the middle of the Nevada desert waiting for another day of filming to begin.
On the bed, her phone beeped. Her heart leapt. Only Ryker had the number. Talia pounced onto the mattress and pressed the buttons to retrieve the message.
I have a challenge for you.
She grinned and answered the text.
I’m game.
Her hands shook as she awaited the return message.
Get your trench coat. Wait for me on the bed.
Wait for him! She glanced around the trailer in search of her trench coat. Nervous giggles erupted from her throat. An answer. She hadn’t given him an answer. Shit.
Yes, Sir.
Hot Excerpt from Take Me by Megan Slayer
Take Me 
Author: Megan Slayer
BIN: 06265-02013
Word Count: 5K
Page Count: 20
Price: $2.49
Release Date: March 15, 2013
Editor: Katriena Knights
Cover Artist: Marteeka Karland
Copy Editor: Pat Sager
Line Editor: Lacey Savage
Genres: Erotic Short Story, Guilty Pleasures (Contemporary), Ménage, Bisexual and More, Dark Desire, Voyeurism and Exhibitionism
Available here: http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2013
The phrase get me out of here just got a sexy makeover.
Talia wants nothing more than to shirk her duties on the set of her latest movie. Why? So she can be with her heartthrob husband, actor Ryker Thomas. But she never expected him to kidnap her… or did she?
EXCERPT:
She donned the trench coat and considered what to pair with it. Despite having a teensy trailer to live in while she filmed Shades of Red, she insisted on having at least twenty pairs of shoes, mostly boots, on hand for any occasion. She grabbed her favorite pair of buckle-adorned, knee-high boots. Ryker didn’t care what she wore as long as she was comfortable. “I love you in nothing at all.”
A shiver went up her spine. Damn, she wished he were there. She plopped down onto the edge of the bed to zip the black stiletto boots, when a thought occurred. He said to wait, but for how long? Would he actually be the one to show up or would he send another decoy? She didn’t want to leave with someone and hated playing games to keep the paparazzi at bay. For the last year, she and Ryker had denied having any sort of a relationship. Then again, he’d denied his relationship with Tristan was more than friendship. She knew better. Tristan and Ryker loved each other as much she loved Ryker.
“He’s my husband,” she grumbled. “I want to be with him no matter what.” Eventually. Talia sighed. “What do you have in mind this time, Ryker?”
Something behind her creaked, and the sound grabbed her attention. The trailer had been shipped directly from the manufacturer brand new. Nothing should’ve made noise in it, not from being loose anyway. Only one door led in or out of the trailer, so if someone was in the bedroom she’d know about them. But if someone hid in the living room, she’d have no idea. She scooted to the edge of the bed and glanced at the reflection of the living room in the closet mirror. Nothing out of the ordinary, save for clothing strewn on the floor.
Part of her wanted to run. Being alone in the trailer didn’t feel right, but where in the hell would she go? Part of her wanted to stay put, but even that seemed risky. Stalkers showed up at movie sets all the time.
Her phone pinged. Ryker.
I’m in the living room.
Well, why didn’t he say so in person? She bounced off the bed and headed into the living room. “Ryker, I’ve missed you.”
She barely got the words out when someone grabbed her wrists. Something black covered her eyes, and something else was tugged over her head, making it hard to breathe. She screamed, but no sound came out. Someone grabbed her legs and tossed her onto his or her shoulder.
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! If I freak out, they’ll kill me. Talia squirmed to free herself from the bindings around her wrists, but failed. She kicked in an attempt to get away from her captor. Whatever covered her head also covered her body. She screamed again, this time able to make noise. “Let me go. Please.”
A hand patted her bottom. She went limp and listened for any clues as to where she was. Her captor carried her for twenty-seven steps. No smells except the tang of her own perfume. She trembled, unable to hold back her fear.
“We’re almost home, sweets.” The arm around her waist tightened in a quick squeeze.
Talia paused. She knew that voice. Knew it well. Ryker.
A Sneak Peek into next Devon Falls book
Welcome to Devon Falls, a place where paranormal finds a place to call home and love finds the most unlikeliest of people. In the sixth book in my Devon Falls series, Grady O’Neil, the owner of The Dirty Diamond Bar & Grille and Jaxon Sinclair’s cousin. We met Grady in Jax’s book, Haunting Magic. He is playboy who loves the ladies but when Ian Bears shows up in town along with his two brothers, well let’s just say this playboy finds that a man who doesn’t believe in love is about to find himself snared by it.
Book Six: Mistletoe Magic/Bear Shape-shifter
Good Morning – Writing About Manlove
Good morning! It’s the last day of the party. *sobs* But I’m here anyway with a few posts and I’ll announce the winners of my contests.
First off have you wondered why I write m/m?
Women writing about men in love! Some people might find it strange that females love creating stories about hot men having sex and getting emotional but really, these days, it’s no longer uncommon to find a great deal of m/m authors who are not gay males. With some of the best writers, you’d never know this unless you knew them personally or they made it public knowledge.
Since I have no secrets, I confess, I’m a woman. *shrug*
I, Michael Mandrake/Rawiya/Blmorticia, write m/m in addition to m/f, m/m/f, m/f/m, ménage, group sex, and everything in between. As much as I love a great hetero tale, I enjoy m/m erotica romance the best. There’s just something more intriguing than the vanilla or as I call it “safe” kind of story. Even in this day and age when we should be more tolerant towards people’s sexual orientation, it’s still very much taboo to read or write about same sex copulation. That fact is really a shame but I won’t use this space as a soapbox.
What is it about men having sex that just gets me all hot and bothered?
It is the thought of two rock hard bodies, sweaty, maybe a bit dirty, getting together. A kiss between two men when their tongues intertwine, their facial hair rubs against each other’s cheeks? The vision of two beautiful specimens enjoying a shower or even more sexy, a ménage or foursome, pleasuring one another with a hot session of fellatio or mutual masturbation.
You’re not hot yet? Well, if you’re a quote “macho man” or woman who’s not into that, fine, but truly, nothing inspires me more than dreaming of scenarios I most likely won’t be able to witness in person. Such is the reason I write about it because my imagination is chock full of ideas of what my ideal m/m relationship is. A hot and sweaty romp with some tension, emotion, and sometimes, even a happy ending.
So again, why do I write m/m stories? It’s arousing, it’s different, and right now, more people are interested in reading about the so called “left” side and as long as that happens, my-selves, along with my fellow male and female counterparts will be able to entertain the masses.
Promo for My Lieutenant 2 In His Arms, The Grinch and Irish Kiss
Nathan Ellerby and Lt. Bryant Duncan are at it again. This time, the narration shifts from Nathan to Bryant who’s looking to solidify his relationship with his favorite artist. The Lieutenant wants to take Nathan to visit his naval friends, his parents who still aren’t happy about his decision to come out, as well as his best friends bachelor party. Bryant refuses to hide his man from the masses and despite his man’s insistence on the unimportance of the matter, Bryant pushes on.
Excerpt
Due to our activities that lasted well into the morning, I skipped the jog at dawn to stay in bed. It had been a while since I’d done that and for the first time I didn’t regret it.
Like clockwork, I lifted my head up from the pillow and looked over at the digital display. “Damn.” Wincing, I felt the soreness in my legs and buttocks. I rubbed my neck and glanced at Nathan, sleeping on his stomach. “Babe, you want me to make breakfast?”
Not even turning over, he responded with a nod. “What are you makin’?”
“Whatever you want, sweets. We can have a light meal, or—”
The sound of the phone interrupted my statement. Again the hip hop ringtone meant Mike was calling. What for, I didn’t know, but because it was twice within the last twenty four hours…. I guess it might be important. “Hold that thought, hun.” I leaned down and pressed my lips against the small of his back while I grabbed the handset. “Hey.”
“Damn, you’re a hard man to catch up with. Why doncha pick up ya damn phone sometime?”
Surprised at that answer, I cocked an eyebrow. I had to put on my best Nathan impression. “Besides last night, I don’t recall the last time you called me. You haven’t exactly been blowin’ up my phone with well wishes in my new life.”
Nathan chuckled.
“I been busy, man. I got some important news for ya.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” I leaned against the headboard and Nathan shifted to lie on my chest. My morning wood stood proudly under the covers and he cupped my balls in his hands, distracting me from this conversation even further.
“I’m gettin’ married, man! Me and Jenea.”
“Whoa! Damn, man, congrats.” Jenea Strong was one of the gals that hung around us a lot as kids. Unbelievable the same tomboy that wanted nothing to do with Mike would now be taking his last name. “Dude, I wasn’t ready for that.” I glanced at Nathan who gave me a confused look.
“Yeah, I know. We been seein’ one another for quite a while now, tho. I’m havin’ a bachelor party, too. I wantcha to come man. The guys wanna see ya!”
“You sure about that? I mean, did ya let em know about me and my man?” I wanted to hear this one. Really I hoped he didn’t, because it had become fun for me to see people’s reactions to my sexuality.
“Naw, um… I haven’t and well, I kinda hoped you’d come alone, ya know? Not that I don’t like Nathan, but…”
What the fuck? “I’m sorry? Did I just hear you say what I thought you did? I’m not going anywhere without him, Mike. Not to the bachelor party, the wedding, nowhere.”
At the sound of that, Nathan stopped tracing my chest and looked up at me. He mouthed, “It’s okay.”
Frowning, I shook my head and gave him a stern look. “No, it’s not okay, baby. Mike, I’m not attending if Nathan isn’t invited. How could you say such a thing, man? Why would I want to come without him?”
“Well, damn man, wouldn’t he be uncomfortable there? I mean, there will be strippers and…”
I scoffed at that. “What? How do you know I won’t be uncomfortable? That’s the stupidest statement I’ve ever heard in my life.”
“How do you think so? You’re newly turned. It might not bother you as much as it does him.”
I’d never heard such an ignorant thing for anyone to say. I wanted so badly to hang up on him and tell him to kiss my ass. Still, this was my childhood friend and even if it meant missing his wedding and all the celebrations that went along with it, I wouldn’t be going without Nathan. “Look here, Mike. If you think I’m coming to the party or wedding without the love of my life, you’re sadly mistaken. Yeah, you’re my buddy and all, but I won’t keep my man under wraps because you can’t accept us as a couple. Give Jenea my regards and when you get some more sense, call me back.” The minute I finished, I pressed the disconnect button.
The nerve of him to ask me to go anywhere without Nathan.
Nathan got up and met my gaze. “You didn’t hafta do that, love. It isn’t that big of a deal.”
“Yeah, it is, babe. Again, here we go with the discrimination bit. If I had a girlfriend, this wouldn’t be an issue, but because I have a man…”
Nathan dragged his long finger over my chin. Trying to soothe me, he stroked the underside of my cock. “Well, we already spoke of this earlier, Bryant. It’s not the norm, so it freaks people out. They can’t get used to it or accept it.”
I drew up my lips at his response. “And you wanna add fuel to the fire by agreeing with him?”
“Only so you can attend your friend’s wedding, love. I’d hate to see you miss it because of something so small. You’ve got to give him a chance to accept us, just like you’ve given your Navy buddies.”
“I get that, love, but they aren’t my best friends either. Yeah, I care about them, but Mike and I have been pals since grammar school and Jenea was our running buddy so of course I wanna go, but I won’t if he doesn’t allow you to come.”
Nathan rolled his eyes and playfully smacked my chest. “God, you’re so pro gay, but I love it. Your transition has been better than I expected. Still, I don’t wanna come where I’m not wanted.”
“And if you’re not wanted, then neither am I. Pro gay huh?” I chuckled and lightly kissed his lips. “You’ve given me every reason to be proud, Nathan. I don’t think I would’ve had so much incentive to finally come out until I spotted you. I knew from the first moment I moved in this building I wanted to get to know you better, I just needed you to realize what I was after.”
Nathan hovered over me and rubbed his groin into mine. “And I did, eventually.”
Immediately, I wanted to forget that silly conversation and have sex. My nipples hardened under his touch and his heated gaze made me sweat. While I tried catching my breath, I blurted out, “Not without prodding and convincing…”
“You mean mind control,” he added and pressed into me again. He reached in between us and stroked both of our cocks in his palm. The moment his foreskin met mine, the pressure built in my midsection.
“And body, baby. You couldn’t resist me from the moment we locked eyes that night. I caught the fools that ransacked your place and you’re my reward.”
“So I’m your prize for doin’ somethin’ good?”
“I can almost go so far as to thank the fools for giving me an in…”
“Bryant!” He hit my chest.
“Ow…” I laughed and wrestled him onto his back. “I wouldn’t have come to you so easy without a reason, Nathan. I was a lil shy, plus I was newly over the fence. That robbery gave us a chance.”
“We would’ve met eventually.” Tightly, he gripped my neck and brought me closer.
“Not soon enough, babe.” Our lips locked and I explored his mouth with my tongue. “Let’s forget all about the conversation I just had and make love again, huh?”
“Sounds good to me, Bryant. I still say…”
“Noo… I’m not goin’ anywhere without you, okay? That’s final. I don’t care if Mike’s my friend. If he can’t accept you and me together than fuck him!”
“Ooh you’re sounding more like me every day, Lieutenant. I’ll make a more vulgar man outta you yet!”
Links
And out now, my free story featuring my fave hot couple. Amazon link isn’t free. Tell them about the freebie on Smashwords and All romance!
Also, the St. Patrick’s Day story for my hot couple!
Blurb: Featuring my characters from My Lieutenant Nathan Ellerby and Bryant Duncan are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, New Orleans style.
Mon Amour Forever More – Sequel to Mon Frere My True Love
Next up, the sequel to Mon Frere My True Love. Surprisingly, the first book did really well. I mean, I really wasn’t expecting the taboo trope of twincest to be a hit but it was. Triple digits in its first 2 weeks of release. Not too shabby!
Now my twins, Ryland and Ryder Durand return to tell you more of their back story. They’ve accepted their love for one another and have discovered in these recent months of their passionate relationship, they’ve adopted one another’s traits and quirks. Ryland has become more of a flirt, dominating, and less of an introvert while his normally ragged and rebel brother has started to have more of a conscience.
This book delves more into the twins past. How they became vampires, their family life before their were changed and tells more about their Sire. I hope to release this one in August and this part of the series has one more to go before the twins join the regular cast of N’awlins exotica.
Look for it and again, thanks to author and brilliant cover artist Sara York for all the N’awlins Exotica covers!
I Like Em Pretty M/M Discounted on All Romance and Smashwords
To celebrate the successful first month of release for ILEP and Mon Frere I’ve discounted the book on ARe and Smashwords
Smashwords it’s 3.50
This is only for the weekend so take advantage of the sale while it lasts.
I’ll be back tomorrow with 2 new covers for my next 2 books in the series as well as my current WIP!
Have a great night
The Hotties on the Cover!
The Hotties on the Cover.
Not that long ago, my fellow author and friend, Ike Rose wrote a blog about the men on romance covers. http://rainingmenamen.blogspot.com/2012/05/where-are-real-men.html On that blog, I commented,
Hi Ike, great blog as always. I’m an author who is guilty of making my characters fabulously hot and or stunningly beautiful. They do have flaws but it’s mostly with their personality. The anonymous commenter brings up an interesting point. Women love to read about romance and fantasy so instead of everyday Joe Blow, we love the beautiful men who look like Brad Pitt or Jason Momoa. *grins*
For years gorgeous men have graced the covers of romance and or erotica novels and even in gay male or m/m romance that’s no exception. You look at a lot of the covers, the man is handsome. Jimmy Thomas and my fave Francis Cura are used pretty often. We know the models when we see them and it makes us want to buy the book. I’d like to expound on this topic if I may instead of writing a book here. I’d think that with m/m or gay romance, a lot of people who read it buy it because the cover is stunning. Usually, those pictures include a hot man. IMO, I think a man who is everyday Joe or not so hot, wouldn’t be very appealing to the everyday readers of m/m romance. Sorry, I put a lot here but I would like to partner off this if you don’t mind. 
As I mentioned, an anonymous person said he or she believes that authors who portray men in gay or m/m romance also subscribe to the romance/fantasy ideal that hetero writers have done for decades. Just take a look at a lot of the erotica romance books. A hot man or a few with muscles, pretty eyes, gorgeous hair or a shaven head because males with bald domes are very sexy. *smiles*
Okay back to the point. Romance readers love buying a book with a hot man on the cover. Its part of the draw right? A man by himself or in a sensuous pose with a hot woman. More on that in a bit but do those of you who read erotic romance buy the book partially because of what’s on front? With that hot cover is a blurb that draws you in to read it too. So, in my opinion, if the man was the everyday Joe you see on the street, you might not buy it as quick, if at all.
I believe the same goes for m/m romance buyers who are in large percentages, women. We like Jimmy Thomas or Francis Cura on our cover just as hetero readers do. We want our fantasy. If the model wasn’t as gorgeous, we might think twice about buying. Now, I’m not saying that happens all the time. A good amount of covers have no man at all or if they do it’s a sketch or drawing of one that might have some boyishly good looks but he doesn’t look like Brad Pitt.
Is there anything wrong with this? I don’t think so. I do see Ike’s point however. We’d like the men in our stories to be someone who we can relate to. He has to be flawed somewhere either have a quick temper, perhaps be a jealous SOB, a drama queen or have a drinking problem. This makes them real to us since even hot guys have issues. That’s also part of the draw so that means your hot man on the cover in a sense, is a REAL man because he has issues.
In my opinion, I think the majority of authors want to bring out the real man in their books but when the cover sheet comes, they have the hot man or at least the pictures of one already planned out. I think the closest to REAL and beautiful to portray on the front would be pictures by Dan Skinner. A lot of his models are not the cardboard cutouts we see in magazines or on runways, rather they might be the guy next door that has lovely qualities and can be considered a real man.
For me, I’m very guilty of using the hot guy. A lot of my characters are beautiful on the outside because I have a model in mind for my men. It’s usually someone I’ve seen on the net that just fits the face of my muse. You’ve heard me talk about my menspirations. Most of the time, those men I’ve picked just fit the story. And when the cover sheet comes, I look for models on Shutterstock and or 123RF as well as other sites to find who is closest to my characters. Is there really something wrong with it? No, but I hope when the book is sold, people can see that even that hot man has issues and he’ll work at either making things better for himself and or his partner. So in closing of that point, I believe if the story is told from the POV of everyday Joe or hot looking Brad Pitt lookalike, we as authors need to make sure we bring out the “real” in the characters to make him relatable and believable. I know personally, this is something I’m working on and will continue to do so. Make them all more real whether they’re pretty or not.
Read more about ILEP here
*Contest: Tell me about some of the fabulous covers you’ve seen no matter what genre or author. I’ll pick one of the comments for the drawing and you’ll win ILEP and a 5GC from Amazon
have a great night all and Rawiya will see you tomorrow with a new release!
