Hello everyone! Today I am pleased to welcome author Kimber Vale to the blog. Kimber is here to talk to us about her new release, Double Takes. She has also brought an exclusive excerpt, as well as a great giveaway to share. So please join me in giving Kimber a big welcome!
Writing Bisexual Characters by Kimber Vale
Where do you stand on bisexual characters?
I saw a kerfuffle not too long ago. I want to say it was at least partially on Goodreads, because, let’s face it, GRs is Kerfuffleville, but I also saw some fallout on Twitter. Just depends on where you’re cyber hanging, I guess. Anyway, it was the whole, “No I won’t touch a book with a vagina written in it and don’t you dare surprise me with one!” debacle. I’m paraphrasing. It wasn’t spelled out exactly that way. Shit, I’m not even sure it qualified as a debacle. Anyway, while I was writing Double Takes, that diaper load hit the AC unit. I remember tweeting to someone, “I just wrote a vag into my WIP!”
Don’t quote me on that, even though I used quotes.
Well, to clarify for the militantly anti-vag readers out there, the beaver in question was a photo sent to someone on Snapchat, so I believe I wouldn’t be bombed outright for such a write-on. Perhaps unfortunately maimed in the crossfire, but certainly not tortured and eventually tossed in a pit of used feminine products.
But what of bisexual characters, all this made me wonder? Do readers shy away from those because a bisexual, by definition, desires both sexes? Maybe there is an increased chance of a surprise set of lower lips in a bi book, huh?
My new release, Double Takes, only includes snoo-snoo of the very gay, very guy variety, even though my MC, Gio Savale, is bisexual. But that whole wild debate left me wondering about the readership of MM books. Are most people firmly against any sort of, well, female anatomy showing up between the pages? I mean, so many MM readers are women, so it would seem that the occasional putang wouldn’t be the end of the world. Is it a deal-breaker? Something you can read past and tolerate? Just a dollop of whipped cream on your erotic romance sundae?
Let me know your thoughts. I’m seriously bi-curious!
Blurb
Ah, the life of a rock star. Everyone thinks it’s nothing but sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Not for Giovanni Savale.
For the lead singer of Three Deaf Mice, a band that reached its pinnacle in the late nineties, it’s nothing but an ugly divorce with a custody battle, money trouble, and now the nightmare exposure of starring in a reality television show. When his producer decides to cash in on an infamous interview Gio did years ago, and give the self-confessed bisexual rocker an onscreen boyfriend, things really hit the fan. Gio is certain his sexual experimentation back in his drug-abusing days meant nothing — after all he’s been married for nine years, clean and sober for nearly as long, and he has a son. And Gio is not remotely attracted to Kyrie, the funny, flamboyant actor they choose for his love interest. Of course, Lance Garrett, the mysterious and sexy owner of the local antique shop, Double Takes, is a whole different story. The guy has Gio planning out a future he never imagined. With the threat of losing all custody of his ten-year-old son, ghosts from the past returning for revenge, and the cameras rolling, can Gio keep his head above water and his heart from getting broken?
Exclusive Excerpt from Double Takes
The steady beat of London Calling pulsed through the DJ’s speakers and a group of guys with multicolor mohawks, guyliner, and boots that looked too heavy to lift began to writhe on the dance floor. Kyrie gave an animated description of the “to die for” costumes used in the production he was auditioning for, and how he’d love to abscond with one to wear to the wedding. He actually used the word abscond, to which Gio raised an eyebrow, but he was only giving Kyrie half his attention. Gio surveyed the live entertainment all around them as he frantically tried to figure out how this was going to work.
He wanted Lance with him in New York.
The Clash segued into The Ramones. It had to happen sooner or later.
he men in drag shook their stuff onto the dance floor to the upbeat strains of I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend. The dancing went from innocent to scandalous in a matter of moments as the sweet “girls” in the club merged with the bad boys of garage rock. Gio turned away. They’d definitely need to take that tape to the chopping block to make it suitable for prime time.
Maybe it was enough that he’d asked Kyrie to go. They could use it for the show. Who knows if Chance and Alex will allow the cameras at their ceremony, anyway? He would need to find out.
Gio plastered a cool hand on his forehead for the return of a headache that was never far off.
“You okay?”
“Just a headache.”
“Wanna get out of here?” Kyrie touched Gio’s cheek, and Gio turned to see if Dangerfield was paying attention from the other table. He never knew what to think, what was for show and what was real? Gio needed to explain to Kyrie, make sure they were cool. Now was as good a time as any. Stand by for more tape you’ll need to slice and dice, Kevin. “Hey, just so we’re clear.” Gio pointed to Kyrie and then to himself with all five fingers. “This is not gonna happen.”
Kyrie smiled and a sage look that was usually hidden beneath his boyish innocence broke through. “Don’t worry. I’m just giving ’em what they asked for. Judging by the way your face went purple when the alterna-twinks started doin’ the drag-shag, I’m guessin’ this is not your place.”
“The music’s good,” Gio conceded. “But, no. Not … my thing.”
“Does your thing have a pussy or a cock? Or are you really an equal opportunity boinker?”
“Boinker? Seriously?” Gio laughed. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” He stood and the camera guys moved with him. “I want a gyro.”
They walked past the dancers. Gio tried to give them a wide berth as Kyrie boogied his way through and gave one punk the fake spank.
Bio
Kimber Vale writes romance of all stripes, from hot hetero stories to mouthwatering men falling in love (under the name K. Vale). Keep up with Kimber’s news on her blog: http://www.kimbervale.me and friend/follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KimberVale. Come for the sex. Stay for the story. http://www.authorkimbervale.com
Find Kimber’s books:
- On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kimber-Vale/e/B006HMAY06/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
- At Liquid Silver Books: http://www.lsbooks.com/k-vale-c421.php
Watch the Double Takes book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBF5EZ2Qcrk
Giveaway
Kimber has a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner’s choice) up for grabs!
Rafflecopter giveaway
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1251e92/
Thanks so much for hosting me, Jay! Happy spring! 🙂
Who knew there could be controversy? 🙂 I say write a bit of everything.
Looks really good!
This sounds really good!
The story should contain whatever is appropriate to the story. While I may not seek out female bits in books I enjoy a well-written book regardless of what “parts” may appear. 🙂
Pardon my ignorance, but what does this mean “GRs is Kerfuffleville”?
Anyway, most of my friends on GR read m-m and m-f books, so a book with a bisexual character isn’t a big deal. For me, it’s about the individual’s journey and how the author wrote it.
I only meant that Goodreads is often a hotbed of heated controversy, Ezinwanyi. 🙂
Honestly, I don’t care much one way or the other. I read romance on both sides of the fence, although I know there are readers out there who are exclusively M/M. For me, it’s much more about the romance, and less about the body parts involved.
I read both MM and MF so maybe that’s part of why it’s not a big deal to me. I care about the characters and the romance. This book sounds great.
I completely forgot to add the actual name of the book, Shooting Stars, on the rafflecopter thingy.
As far as what I read? Strictly M/M. I don’t mind a VERY (read: extremely) short scene (and not too graphic) where there is a woman there but can do without.
Double Takes sound good and my curiosity for the story is strong.
Congratulations on your newest release and I wish you much success!
Great post, Kimber!
Thanks, Dean!
I read darn near everything in the romance genre, so it wouldn’t bother me any at all.
It’s okay to me. I’m interested in a good story.
The book sounds very nice. True, when I read mm I try not to pick anything that involves a female within any sexual escene. But if it’s necessary for the story and the main characters’ feelings for each other are not affect in any way, fine with me. I have more issues when it comes to menage, female or not in it. Just not my cup of tea.
I don’t mind it so long as I know it’s going to be in the book. Add a warning, mention it in the blurb, something. If I know it’s there before I choose to read a book, then I’m okay with it.
I switch hit for books. I like to read just about everything.
Great post. I don’t mind bi-curious or bisexual characters, but I think lots of people want books labeled M/M to be just that. An author can’t not always give a reader everything they want.
Wonderful post. I’m really looking forward to giving this a read.
Bi doesn’t bother me, but I do like to know if the m/f relationship ends up a significant part of the m/m story.
Here are my thoughts on the whole thing. I love m/m romance (clearly, lol) and I personally enjoy it much more than m/f. That said, I have no problem reading m/f sex in my m/m books if it makes sense for the story. Lots of gay men (and obvs lots of bi men) have had sex with women. And for the same reason that you may choose to show m/m sex explicitly versus off page, the same holds true for m/f sex.
Personally I don’t think the authors or publishers have an obligation or need to issue a “warning” to readers. I consider a warning appropriate for various triggers – rape, abuse, etc., where someone may have emotional trauma related to an issue and needs to avoid a book. I don’t consider reading about vaginas to rise to that level. It is a preference, just like lots of other elements of a story. There are many things I may encounter in a book that I don’t like, but I don’t expect them all to be listed out for me by the publisher “just in case.”
All that said, here at Joyfully Jay, we typically include mention if there is m/f sex in the book because our job is to share our thoughts about the book and help readers figure out if it is for them. So I mention lots of things I wouldn’t expect a publisher to include because I know that it factors into people’s decisions about what to read. For example, we usually mention cheating b/c that is a deal breaker for some folks. I also mention if there are menages scenes in a non menage book b/c some folks really aren’t into threesomes. So while I don’t consider them “warnings” I do mention them so that people can make a decision about whether they want to read the book.
Anyway, just my thoughts. Happy reading!
Ohh~ Excited to read this.
Hmm.. I admit I don’t like mf in my mm books. Like… if it’s obviously a bi chara or gay for you situation or something along the lines of, the character being unsure if he’s gay, I don’t mind the mf bits.
But if it says it’s MM and there’s not hinting at all that it’ll be with mf scenes, then that is when I don’t like it and it bothers me and I wish there had been some kind of warning. It happened once, a gay characters with a gay hooker, yet somehow the main charas girl friend wound up in the mix in one sex scene. I mean… This wasn’t at all an MMF or whatnot, it still ended with MM but the whole book and up to the end, it was written as if the characters were strictly gay.. or at least, only wanted a male partner. when it’s something like that, Where I’m in a mindset, that I won’t read any girl bits, I dislike it and it ruins the book for me.
BUT THAT’S JUST FOR ME!
Me, personally.
But then…. that’s why I look at reviews or tags or shelves to make sure I don’t run into something like that again. I feel, If you don’t like it, any m/f in your mm at all, then at least do some research to make sure it’s not in it and don’t expect there NOT to be MF when it’s a struggling chara (GFY) or a Bi chara.
ha, that’s just my own opinion of course… but… Que Sera, Sera. *shrugs*
Thank you so much for the contest! 😀
Thanks for the great response, everyone! I agree that it’s nice to know what you’re walking into, in case something isn’t your cup of tea. Then again, everyone is vastly different when it comes to what works and what doesn’t, the potential to open a book and step on an “ick” mine is probably pretty high. 😉 Thanks again for having me, Jay! This was fun.
I personally take my books however I can get them, all I care about is that it’s a great story. Love the sound of the book, very unique and different. Will be picking it up soon.
Thanks for stopping by!