‘As You Wish’, the novella I wrote for the Good Reads ‘Love is an Open Road’ event has now been published. I cannot find the words to express what a wonderful experience working with the M/M Romance group #DRITC team has been. The editor I worked with, Barb, and the proof readers have been amazing and I have learned so much from them.
This was the first time I had ever written from a story prompt. I had always shied away from it before because I didn’t want to be limited by the remit of the prompt. But the prompt photo, featuring two men in Highland dress, and the accompanying letter, requesting that their story be told… and must be FUNNY, grabbed my attention.
The day before i saw the prompt, I had what i call a ‘flash dream’- I have these regularly, they are basically a scene popping into my head. I could be out shopping, or doing the laundry or out on a walk, and I see the scene so clearly I have to rush home and write it down. The scene I wrote the day before, became the opening scene in the airport in ‘As You Wish’ where my characters Sam and Declan met for the first time..and the rest of the book wrote itself . I’m guessing divine inspiration was at play here! I was amazed. I still am amazed by the fact that a prompt inspired such an enjoyable, funny, sexy love story, AND has spawned what i hope to be a series. I love the characters of Sam and Declan like they are old friends. I want to share what happens next, so bad… #am writing
Blurb
1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story! Declan Ramsay’s brother Oliver was marrying Annabelle Aiken at a fairy tale Castle on the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland. The bride and groom decided, so that he didn’t feel left out, Annabelle’s gay younger brother Sam Should share the best man duties with Declan. Declan had never met the kid who was to be his joint best man. Sam Aiken was abroad, working as an interpreter and finishing his studies. He wouldn’t meet Declan until a few days before the wedding, so the best men communicated and planned their speech by email for more than a year. But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to realise the kid isn’t a kid at all, but a tall, blond and athletic young man. Declan is sure he’s straight, so he’s alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself.
But is Samuel Aiken all that he appears to be?
Here’s a short excerpt
“Sam watched as the kilt was secured around Declan’s waist. Fuck Braveheart… Declan’s sex appeal just went through the roof, in Sam’s mind. Sam didn’t know what it was about the donning of a kilt that made him want to launch himself at Declan and pin him to the floor. He bit his own knuckle to mute his desire. “Nice skirt,” Sam jested, his eyes sparkling with laughter.
“Are ye lookin’ for a slapped arse?” Declan spat defensively.
“Now… there’s a thought!” Sam snickered, dodging Declan’s lunge and heading to the wardrobe to retrieve his own kilt.
“Seriously, never call it a skirt. I’ve known many men to get their arses kicked for sayin’ that —” Declan warned. “— and ye have such a lovely arse, I’m no done with it yet!” he added affectionately.”