Dawn's Reading Nook: Welcome Michael Mandrake today & a Giveaway

Please give a warm welcome to author Michael Mandrake who is dropping by my blog, Dawn's Reading Nook, on their I LOve It Rough blog tour.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

SL: No I didn’t. I actually wanted to be an artist when I was younger but I couldn’t draw worth a damn. Ah well, so here I am. I can write a little. *winks*

Are you a plotter or a panster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

SL: I’m a combo because of the muses. Michael likes to plan for the most part while Rawiya and BL both do more of panster deal. Plotting is when you make a detailed outline of scenes in some kind of order. Since I hardly ever stick to this, I prefer panstering which means I write by the seat of my pants and allow the characters to rule the story.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

SL: Yes, the latest book is under Michael Mandrake called I Love it Rough. It’s the sequel to I Like Em Pretty, an m/m erotica romance about a cop who falls in love with a stripper that just lost his fiancée to suicide. The 2^nd book is a continuation of their story but focuses more about the crime and the goings on around them. I added a couple more characters, a serial killer, and my twins from the other series, N’awlins Exotica Paranormal.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

SL: Its the 2^nd in the N’awlins Exotica series and people who read the first asked me to delve more into Frankie’s detective work this time around. This one really isn’t a romance. It’s an existing couple trying to deal with the tension around them as well as the chaotic atmosphere. Murder, suspense, sexual innuendo between supporting characters along with Kajika finding out more about himself.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

SL: I have so many stories that need revisits, edits, etc. I just finished a story that’s the follow-up to another story I did for an anthology. It’s called I Love You Rhett Vorhees. It’s an interracial m/m about two men who met in elementary school, finding love as adults.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

SL: LOL so many. Although I love Sue Brown, Mercy Celeste and others, I’d have to say Anne Rice. I mean, who doesn’t want to meet her? *laughs* I’ve read and enjoyed most of her books.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

SL: Besides, doing research on publishers BEFORE you sign and or submit and have betas on standby with EVERY story, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT answer reviews. This includes Amazon, Goodreads, whatever. Say thanks, if you must, and move on. Don’t challenge the reader about their opinion. It is however just that, an opinion. It doesn’t make it gospel.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

SL: To go to Britain. I must travel to Britain before I die. *smiles*

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

SL: Mercy Celeste’s Offside Chance. I’m re-reading the first two before I start that. And then the Sue Brown Arches series. I have the first one. Need to buy and read 2&3.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

SL: Halloween is. I love watching people in costume and at times, I might dress up too.

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?

SL: Right this minute? Because it changes by the day, almost the hour really. *laughs* I’ll say Jason Momoa. He’s a babe! He’s in a lot of my stories and/or ideas. I adore him. He’s beautiful!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

SL: Thanks to all the lovely people who’ve given me a read as well as the lovely author community that supports me. Despite some of the vitriol going around the publishing world, there are still plenty of good people in publishing. *smiles*

I Love It Rough by Michael Mandrake

N'Awlins Exotica Book Two

Contemporary M/M, Interracial/Multicultural

Livin’ in N’awlins ain’t all that easy…

Kajika Fortier loves his job, the attention he gets from onlookers, and Frankie Choteau. However, his new partner’s jealousy, mood swings, and over protectiveness drives Kajika to the brink but at the same time, excites him to no end.

To complicate things further, a murderer is on the loose looking for blood. All three of the killer’s victims are strippers which not only makes Frankie nervous about Kajika’s safety but leaves him questioning his love for being a homicide detective. Coupled with the stresses of cold cases as well as some fellow officers shunning him for coming out, Frankie is having second thoughts about staying in New Orleans. Despite the encouragement from Vance, Kenina, and Orrin as well as new chief Quinn Murray, Frankie is wondering if his life’s passion really is to catch the killers.

Will the new couple survive these new issues that impede their nearly perfect union? Or will the relationship fail, thus leaving Kajika alone and a target for New Orleans latest serial killer? Detective Choteau and Kajika’s commitment to one another is being tested in more ways than one and they only have one another to lean on.

Teaser Excerpt:

“Babe? Frankie?” Kajika’s voice snapped him out of his haze, and he rushed to the living room to greet his man. The moment Frankie met the brown gaze of his husband to be, his breath caught in his chest. He sure loved to look at the beautiful man Kajika Fortier had always been.

“Hey, sugah.” Frankie grabbed his arms and brought him in for a passionate kiss on the lips. Just that sent a stir to his groin he knew he’d need to take care of immediately. “How was work?”

Kajika reciprocated the embrace. “Long.” He dropped his bag and kicked it over in front of the closet. “I danced for almost forty minutes. Lana didn’t show up at the club tonight. I tried calling her, but she didn’t pick up. I really wanted to stop by but not without someone. I recall you telling me about the rash of assaults in her neighborhood.”

Frankie nodded and massaged his man’s shoulders. “I’m glad you didn’t go by there alone, babe. Perhaps we’ll go check on her tomorrow after our early dinner? Perhaps she was sick or something or her phone ran out of juice.”

Kajika agreed and wrapped his arms around Frankie’s waist. “I suppose.” Kajika’s worried expression instantly transformed to a smile. “So, my man, what did you do all day besides call and get me in trouble with everyone?”

“Who me?” Frankie pointed to himself, and his eyes widened in surprise. “Nah, them girls just jealous, that’s all, especially Naomi. I don’t know what’s taking Orrin so long to ask her out on a formal date.”

“Me neither.” Kajika clicked his teeth and leaned forward, taking a small bit of Frankie’s bottom lip in between his own. “I mean, they looked like they’d hit it off real well when we all got together at the club weeks ago. She said they talk on the phone almost every weekend, but Orrin gets so busy at the station.”

Frankie groaned and reached around his lover’s body, clenching his buttocks tightly between his fingers. Surges of energy instantly shot to his groin and his nipples in response to Kajika’s affections. “Yeah, well, I know all about that. Still, he’s had a chance or two to just grab a bite with her or even a drink. Perhaps now that Kenie’s back he can try asking her out.”

“Hopefully so. My girl needs some dick, so she’ll stop snapping on me.” Kajika laughed, moving forward into Frankie’s touches. He traced the lines of his face as well as his newly trimmed mustache and beard. “Well, enough about them. What’s on the agenda for our first night alone in a while, hmm? I’m not real hungry…for food, anyway. We had a quickie in the shower this morning−”

“Which ain’t enough, lover.” Frankie gripped Kajika’s ass and lifted him from the floor, licking his lips like a tasty treat. He flashed a wicked grin. “I’m ready to go all night if we have to, sweetheart. I’ve been resting up for you all damn day.”

Kajika chuckled and shifted, wrapping his legs around Frankie’s waist. “Then show me, babe. I’m not too tired to get it on into the wee hours, Frankie.” Kajika caressed Frankie’s lips with his fingertips, pushing one into his mouth.

Frankie hungrily accepted, taking Kajika’s entire finger in, sucking it to the knuckle. “With pleasure−”

Before Frankie could finish his sentence, his phone buzzed in his pocket, disturbing him from further thought.

Frankie grimaced but continued to hold onto Kajika. “Damn! I knew I should’ve switched this fucking thing off!”

“Ugh!” Kajika forced himself out of Frankie’s grip and frowned, petulantly crossing his arms over his chest. “Should I go to the bedroom and wait for you or expect to be eating a late night snack alone, watching I Love Lucy re-runs?”

Frankie glanced at the screen and held his finger up to wait.

Of course the station was calling to interrupt his special moment. “Hello?”

“Frankie, Kenie here. I need you in here now, man. Orrin and Vance are on another case, and I need backup. There’s been a murder near Louis Three again.”

Frankie cursed silently and shook his head.

“Erg!” Kajika stomped out of the room, not bothering to look back.

“Seriously? Goddamnit, I…” Frankie ran his hand over his head, thinking of an excuse not to go in. “Damn, Kenie, I was trying to enjoy my night off, and low and behold we gotta case on your first night back.”

Frankie could hear her grin through the phone. “Yeah, just your dumb luck, huh, beloved? Come on, boy, don’t make me come and get you, right? I’m sorry I might be spoiling the evening with your pretty boy lovah, but−”

Frankie rolled his eyes and sighed, knowing his man would be very upset. “No, you’re really not, but whatever. What’s the address?”

“Thirty Seven, Seventeen Orleans is the address. We’ll−”

Frankie’s eyes bulged, and his heart stopped.

Could it be? Oh hell!

“Kenie, you said a murder at that address?”

Kenina cleared her throat. “Yes, sir, can we…”

“I’ll see you in about twenty.” Frankie’s heart sped up not knowing what the heck to say to his man who was already upset about their plans being interrupted. Just how the hell would he say that his fellow dancer might be a victim of murder?

Blog stops for the I Love It Rough Tour

2/22 Mantasy Remmy Duchene

2/23 The Rainbow Studio

2/24 Wednesday Briefs Site

2/25 Lily Velden

2/26 Its Raining Men

2/27 Full Moon Dreaming Julie Lynn Hayes

2/28 Nature of the Heart Renee Stevens

3/1 Dawn’s Reading Nook

3/2 SweetNSexyDivas

3/3 Cia’s Stories Cia Nordwell

3/4 Raine O’ Tierney

3/5 Wicked Sexy Writers

3/6 Naughty Nights Press Blog

Are Cafe

3/7 Decadent Delights MA Church

3/8 JC Wallace

3/9 Chris T Kat

3/10 LM Brown

3/11 Rob Colton

3/12 Shira Anthony

3/13 Dreamz of Dragons AR Von

3/14 Talismania Brilliant Disguise Tali Spencer

3/15 QueerTown Abbey

About the Author

Michael Mandrake pens complex characters already comfortable with their sexuality. Thorough these, he builds worlds not centered on erotica but rather the mainstream plots we might encounter in everyday life through personal experiences or the media. To find out more please visit http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com.

Author Sharita Lira: In one word, crazy. Just crazy enough to have 3 different muses running around in her head, driving her to sheer exhaustion with new plot bunnies and complex characters.

This happily married mother of two beautiful children loves music, computers, reading, and still enjoys reading and writing fanfiction. She’s a proud member of the Erotica Readers & Writers Association, as well as an advocate for rights of LGBT citizens. She’s also a contributor to the heavy metal ezine Fourteeng.net.

For more information, please visit http://www.thelitriad.com as well as her Facebook fanpage, The Literary Triad.

The Literary Triad - http://www.thelitriad.com/#!

Michael Mandrake – http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com

BLMorticia – http://blmorticia.wordpress.com

Rawiya - http://rawiyaerotica.wordpress.com

TriadPromo - http://triadliteraryworks.blogspot.com/

Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/rawiyamikembl

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/TheLiteraryTriad

AuthorGraph - http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/rawiyamikembl

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