Thanks for stopping by to talk a little about your writing! Let's
jump right in. When did you begin writing and why?
-Thank
you for having me. I really appreciate it.
-I
have always enjoyed reading. It was my refuge from all of the things that had
plagued me way back then. When I was in elementary school, I had come to
discover that writing was really therapeutic. I could write down (I didn’t have
a laptop or typewriter at that age) all of the things that I felt and it gave
me the opportunity to work things out quietly all by myself. As I was growing
up, I tried writing poetry. Unfortunately, all of my poems had already been
rejected. *laugh*
Do you have a favorite genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to
write?
-I
don’t really have a favorite genre. Wait, does pornography count as a genre?
*wink* *laugh* Anyway, on a more serious note, I had initially begun writing
poetry and non-fiction stuff, but I somehow felt that they were constricting
me. Probably because I have all of these stories inside my head that just don’t
seem to fit as either a poem or a non-fiction. Then, I wrote romance, but I
couldn’t write heterosexual romances. I mean, I could have, but it felt…disconnected
to me. I honestly find it easier to write M/M romance because I can sort of
rely on my own experiences up to a certain extent. Thus, that’s how I get into
the erotic romance writing.
Do certain themes and ideas tend to capture your writer’s
imagination and fascinate you?
I
love paranormal stuff. I also love some tropes like soul mates, arranged
marriages and alpha/omega. I tend to write whatever the muse hits me with at
any given time. I would love to try writing BDSM, but I don’t have personal
experiences. I have to do plenty more research before I can feel comfortable
enough to write a story on that particular topic.
How do you balance long-term thinking vs. being
nimble in today's market?
I always keep an open mind. Long-term thinking and being
nimble are very difficult to navigate because there is such a fine line between
them. On the one hand, an author needs to know what sells in today’s market. On
the other hand, he/she needs to be careful not to be pigeonholed as a “paranormal
writer,” a “menage writer,” a “historical romance writer,” or even a “M/M
writer” only. That is one of the reasons why I’m still writing poetry and
non-fiction in spite of my utter lack of success in those areas. *laugh*
How do you find readers in today's market?
I’m truly grateful that there seems to be several readers
who are very into M/M erotic romance so I’m not exactly breaking any new
ground, so to speak. I have joined several groups through social media such as
Twitter and Facebook. I’m also on a few Yahoo Groups. I believe that it is
highly important to get my name out there as much and often as possible.
Do you come up with the hook first, or do you
create characters first and then dig through until you find a hook?
I generally come up with a hook first. Then I will start to
work from there, expanding the story as much as possible. However, some stories
just can’t seem to expand beyond 12,000 or 20,000 words. I really dislike
expanding on a story for the sake of the word count because I always feel like
the story line can quickly veer off towards an unwanted path.
How do you create your characters?
I
like my characters to be as “human” as possible. Even when writing paranormal
romances, my characters tend to have their humanity intact. Maybe that’s why I
can’t seem to write a good Fantasy/Science Fiction story. *laugh*
What's on the top of your TBR
pile right now?
Goodness!
I have so many of them that they are piling up on my reading devices. *Don’t
give me those judging eyebrows* I always seem to have tons and tons of things
that interest me. Most of them are romances though. *laugh*
Tell me a little about the characters in Twelve Gifts.
There
are two main characters: Dylan Hughes and Aaron Tyler. Dylan Hughes is a
sweetheart and he loves baking, which is very important because he owns a
bakery. He doesn’t have much luck when it comes to relationship though. Aaron
Tyler is a take-charge kind of man. He is a romantic and he goes after what he
wants. However, beneath the confidence, he has his own insecurities.
Where’s the story set? How much influence did the setting have on
the atmosphere/characters/development of the story?
I
set the story somewhere in the western hemisphere of the globe. I actually
wrote the story back in August while listening to a ton of Christmas songs.
*laugh* I really miss the winter season. Since winter doesn’t exist where I’m
living presently, I have to live vicariously through my characters.
If you had to write your memoir in five words, what would you
write?
Only
five words? Hmm… It might go something like, “Write what you believe in.”
How often does your muse distract you from day to day minutiae?
Oh,
where do I start? *laugh* My boyfriend sometimes felt neglected by me once I
have begun writing. Then, there were those times when I would take out my phone
and type out the ideas forming inside my head while grocery shopping or eating
with my cubby hubby - I call my boyfriend “cubby hubby” while he calls me “chunky
hubby.” Go figure! *laugh*
What do readers have to look forward to in the future from you?
There
will be an anthology coming out in January (if I am not mistaken). It’s a
creative non-fiction stuff and it will be the second one that I am a part of;
the first one had been released last August 31st. After “Twelve Gifts,”
I have two menage stories (both of them will have the main characters having
kid(s)) coming out in January; one is M/M/M while the other one will be
M/M/M/M. I also have a M/M wedding romance coming out in February, a Valentine’s
day M/M/M romance coming out in March, a M/M paranormal romance coming out in
April and a M/M/M romance coming out in May.
I’m
currently trying to write a M/M romance that is a mixture of assassin and
magic. Plus, there is a M/M/M romance that may not suit everyone’s taste
because two of the characters are actually step siblings and the story may be a
little darker than what I have written in the past. I’m also writing a M/M
romance that is something along the line of marriage by contract.
I
am determined to keep on writing as long as people are still interested in me.
*laugh* We’ll see how it goes in the future.
Title: Twelve Gifts
Author:
Casper Graham
Genre: M/M Erotic Holiday
Romance
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Buy Links:
Dylan
Hughes owns a small bakery. He's doing what he loves and business is good, but
he's lonely. After a bad relationship, he's been keeping to himself, and things
are worse during the Christmas season. Then there is his unrequited crush on
Aaron Tyler.
Aaron
is a successful event planner. He and Dylan met more than two years earlier
and, after tasting Dylan's baking, Aaron proposed a collaboration. They've
worked together ever since. Not willing to risk their friendship, Dylan has
kept his feelings under wraps.
But
a secret admirer begins to send Dylan thoughtful gifts twelve days before
Christmas. The cute, clever gifts keep on coming and he's flattered, but they
couldn't have come at a worse time. Aaron has finally asked him out.
What
happens when the secret admirer’s identity is revealed on Christmas Day? Will
Dylan's blossoming relationship with Aaron survive?
A
Small Excerpt:
Note:
may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.
He had just finished arranging everything
neatly when the bell tinkled, signaling that there was a customer in the
bakery. He stood up to greet the customer, but the words died in his throat.
There were eleven people lined up in one neat row in front of the counter. Each
person was holding a flute.
“Are you Dylan Hughes?” an elderly woman
asked. He nodded in confusion. He bet that this would be another bizarre
afternoon. “Okay, people. On the count of three. One, two, three.”
He could only gape openly at the weirdness
of this entire situation. He knew the song that they were playing though. It
was “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” He hummed along to the melody and enjoyed
himself thoroughly. He totally believed in the saying, “If you can’t beat them,
join them.” He might as well enjoy this free entertainment.
Like the day before, passers-by were lured
into the bakery by the music. They all clapped loudly when the last note died
down. That was when he noticed Aaron standing by the door, grinning widely at
him. He waved at the man, who was now walking towards him.
“Secret admirer again?”
“I don’t ...” He was surprised when Aaron’s
finger pointed at an envelope on the counter. One of the eleven performers must
have left it there for him when the performance was over.
“Read it, Dylan. I’ll take care of the
performers. Besides, you have hungry customers to deal with.”
He agreed gratefully. There were not as
many people today as the day before and he was done in less than twenty minutes.
He then packed up Aaron’s usual favorites and handed the boxes to him.
“How much do I owe you, Aaron? I presume
that you have paid the performers for two days in a row now or at least tipped
them well.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Aaron shrugged it
off and instead handed over his credit card to pay for his purchases.
“On the house, Aaron. You’ve helped me out
twice and you’ve given me plenty of repeat customers, who in turn introduce my
bakery to many more.”
“Alright then. Thanks, Dylan.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So what does it say?”
“What?”
“You haven’t read it yet?”
Dylan was confused for a second before
understanding dawned on him. Aaron had referred to the message within the
envelope.
“Oh, not yet. Hold on a second.”
He took out another postcard from within
the envelope and admired the picture of eleven bagpipes on it before reading
aloud the message on the other side.
It is ten days before Christmas,
I hope you’ve enjoyed the flutists,
Sad that I cannot find eleven bagpipe
players ...
From,
Your secret admirer
“So?” Aaron prodded.
“So nothing,” Dylan insisted. “It’s nice to
have a secret admirer, but I’m dating you.”
“Alright,” Aaron whispered.
Dylan smiled at the other man and leaned in
for a brief, sweet kiss. He wished he could spend all his waking hours locking
lips with Aaron, who had turned out to be an amazing kisser, but he had bills
to pay.
“Any plans tonight?”
“Not yet.”
“Dinner at my place? I can bake a mean
lasagna.”
“Sounds good, Dylan. I can be here by
half-past six. My building is next to yours, but I have some last-minute things
to take care of.”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you then.”
They said their goodbyes after sharing
another gentle kiss. Dylan watched the other man walking out of the bakery
before making his way into the kitchen. He might as well get started on dinner
preparation.
He still remembered his first meeting with
Aaron. His bakery had been open for business for slightly more than a year when
the gorgeous, athletic man walked in. He sold almost every type of items
available that day. The next day, Aaron had returned and proposed that they
work together. As an event planner, the other man needed not only a reliable
baker, but one who could bake delicious pastries. They hashed out the details
that same day. It was one of the best business decisions he had ever made.
Author’s
Bio:
Casper
Graham is an aspiring writer. Writing is a passion. He believes that
inspirations can come in all sorts of formats. Sometimes it hits at the most
unexpected moment. In his spare time, he also loves to read, listen to music or
watch a movie. He is currently in a relationship with the most amazing man and
they hope to get married someday.
Author’s
links:
1. Blog:
alcasgraham.blogspot.co.id
2. Facebook:
facebook.com/alcasgraham
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alcasgraham/
4. Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/alcasgraham
5. Pinterest: https://id.pinterest.com/alcasgraham/
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