Hello everyone! Today I am excited to welcome author Michael Rupured to the blog. Â Michael is here to talk to us more about his new release, After Christmas Eve. Â He has also brought a copy to give away to one lucky winner. So please join me in giving Michael a big welcome!
Thanks so much, Jay, for having me on your blog and for being part of my Release Party for After Christmas Eve. As a writer, I really appreciate all you do to keep readers informed about new releases and other goings on in the genre. I’m also a reader, and appreciate the thoughtful reviews on your site. It’s truly a pleasure to be here.
To celebrate the 10/11 release of my second novel by MLR Press, I’m giving away ten free ebooks via an eleven-stop blog hop that kicks off today. Details are available here (http://wp.me/p1Htlv-LB). Each stop on the hop features a different excerpt from the first three chapters, in serial form. If you can’t wait for the next segment, you can buy the book here (http://www.mlrbooks.com/books.php)
Though technically a prequel, you don’t need to have read Until Thanksgiving (Dreamspinner Press) to enjoy After Christmas Eve. The story takes place thirty years earlier and revolves around Philip Potter—a supporting character in the first book. So no need for a spoiler alert to tell you he doesn’t get killed.
The story started out as a thriller with the reader knowing the killer’s identity, but changed directions a dozen times through as many drafts. I won’t bore you by detailing the shifts, but the final version ended up being a holiday-themed murder mystery/thriller with a little romance, a sprinkling of gay history, and a dash of humor.
In 1966 when the story takes place, homosexual activity was a felony in every state but Illinois. Homosexuality was a mental illness, its victims prone to pedophilia and various subversive acts. After hundreds of gay government workers were fired for being suspected communists, a federal ban on hiring was imposed, existing into the 1970s.
By the time I came out in 1979, raids were pretty much a thing of the past. The gay bar had become the center of the local GLBT universe—a refuge from a largely homophobic society. In After Christmas Eve, I give readers an idea of what life as a gay man was like not even fifty years ago.
Here’s the blurb:
As Philip Potter wraps up his last minute shopping on Christmas Eve, 1966, James Walker, his lover of six years, takes his life. Unaware of what waits for him at home, Philip drops off gifts to the homeless shelter, an act of generosity that later makes him a suspect in the murder of a male prostitute.
Two men drive yellow Continentals. One is a killer, with the blood of at least six hustlers on his hands. Both men have secrets. And as Philip is about to discover, James had kept secrets, too. But James wasn’t trying to frame him for murder…
Visit my website (http://rupured.com), like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichaelRupured), or follow me on Twitter (@crotchetyman).
Giveaway
Michael is giving away a copy of After Christmas Eve to one lucky winner. Leave a comment below to enter. The contest closes on Saturday October 19th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Â Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Looks good!! Â Would love to win!
Thanks, Beth–and good luck!Â
I never realized things were that bad in so recently in the past! It’s amazing how cruel humans can be…
I had some idea, but really hadn’t realized the full extent. Making people aware of how far we’ve come was a big motivator for me to write the story.Â
Count me in please 🙂
Thanks for hopping along with me, Pen 😉
Please count me in. Thanks.
Thanks!
Great blurb! This looks interesting! Please count me in!
Thank you!
Thanks Michael, for more thought provoking (and web surfing inducing) comments.
LOL One of the posts on the hop is about my reliance on Google for details.
Thrilled with the progress made in recent years for equality. Â Evolution seems to be going backwards in places like Washington, look at all the Neanderthals in congress. Â Thanks for another chance at your book.
You’re very welcome. I suppose there will always be cretins 🙂
Please count me in!
Good luck!
Sounds like a really good read.
Thanks, and good luck!
I would love to read the book. I am delighted to see how progress is being made but as my daughter can attest, we still have a ways to go.
Thank you! And yes, we still have a ways to go—a long way in some cases.Â
This sounds like a great read. I’d love to read it. Please count me in.
Thanks so much!
Please count me in. It sounds like a good read. I’m always looking for a holiday read around the holidays 🙂
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing the history of our little part of the world and also your story. I love the mixture you’ve described it as. Mysteries are a particular favorite of mine.
Thank you!