Today I am so pleased to welcome EM Rose to Joyfully Jay. EM  has come to talk to us about her latest release, First Time: Josh & Dan. She has also brought along an exclusive excerpt and a copy of the book to give away. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

 

For a writer, I suck at imagination. I realize that’s a rather large admission, so I’m going to clarify here. I’m okay at imagining plots and subplots and weaving an (I hope!) engaging story line, but when it comes to the finer details – like what do my characters actually look like – I’m lost. That’s where research comes in.

Oh the hardship of the hours I have to spend pouring over online images of semi-naked men until I find just the right ones. But once I have them, my stories come to life.

Sometimes I will Google locations or houses, or sometimes even things as specific as an expression upon a face, if I’m trying to write an emotion I just can’t quite ‘feel’. I believe it’s these small details that really help bring the scenes to life in my head and make the story flow. I am a visual writer – once I see it, I can write about it. Especially if it’s something that I don’t have a lot of first-hand experience with.

For example, not being much of a fashionista, clothing is something I always research. In my latest story, Rachel’s stunning high-low wedding dress and her bridesmaid’s red cocktail creation were all results of a Google session looking for the perfect ensemble. I didn’t actually need to research Dan’s very spunky attire as I based it on my husband’s outfit on our own wedding day, right down to the red waistcoat, but I did spend a fair bit of time Googling guys in suits just for fun. Which turned to shirtless guys in suits and generally degenerated from there.

And somehow between all that Googling and drooling, not to mention hours of watching guys kissing on YouTube because a girl’s gotta get it right! –  I did manage to write the story of Josh & Dan, the second book in my First Time series about two best friends who discover their relationship may not be as platonic as they thought. And now it’s time to find the guys for book number three… sigh!


Excerpt

Closing the fridge, the kitchen plunged into darkness; the only illumination coming from a neon microwave display and a distant streetlight. Josh didn’t care. Such was his familiarity with the layout, he could easily walk through the house in the dark and he turned to head back to the shed. All of a sudden, a black shadow loomed before him.

“Christ!” He jumped back in fright, then felt stupid when he realised it could only be Dan. “You scared the shit outta me man.”

“Sorry,” Dan sounded amused.

About bloody time he was out of the doldrums. “We’ve lucked out a bit in the food department I’m afraid,” Josh told him. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.” In the darkness, Dan’s voice seemed gruff and deeper than usual.

“How about pizza?”

“Meh.”

Josh bristled at his offhand tone. “Well, what do you want then?”

“You.”

The husky word hung in the air. Josh thought he’d misheard it until he felt the hard wall of Dan’s body against his. A hand came up to clasp the back of his neck and then suddenly Dan’s mouth was upon his, kissing him with the kind of passion he should have reserved for his fiancée. Josh was momentarily stunned, rooted to the spot as the shock of what was happening washed through him. He reached up and grasped Dan’s face, determined to push him away, yet somehow found himself kissing him back.


Blurb

First Time Josh & DanJosh and Dan have been best friends since grade school. Now Dan is getting married and Josh is to be his best man. When Dan confesses after his buck’s show that he’s getting cold feet, Josh – who can’t help feeling a little jealous of his friend – doesn’t understand why he wouldn’t want to marry the gorgeous Rachel Moore.

Everything becomes clear later after a few drinks. They share a kiss that leads to them having sex and Josh finds out the best friend he thought he knew so well is actually gay. He doesn’t know how to deal with this or his guilt when he has to face Dan’s fiancée and tell her what happened. Especially when he starts to develop his own feelings for Dan.


Bio

EM Rose loves sexy men and loud music. Even better if they are sexy rock stars playing loud music! She has a particular soft spot for singers and guitarists – especially if they have long hair. Her first book Jordy’s Song, published last year by Steam eReads is about the dramas of a rock band on the road, and was inspired by many sexy (long-haired) rock stars she has known in real life or drooled over in her fantasies. Her ‘First Time’ series is all about that moment hot, sexy males decide to cross the line into the world of man love – gotta love that!

Website: http://emroseauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmRoseAuthor


Giveaway

EM has brought a copy of First Time: Josh & Dan to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Sunday, June 22nd 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.  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.
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