Today I am so pleased to welcome Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn to Joyfully Jay. Leta and Indra have come to talk to us about their new release, Vespertine. She has also brought along…. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
But Wait! An Out Gay Priest? That Can’t Happen In Real Life! (Spoiler Alert: It Can and It Has!)
Vespertine, my newest book, co-written with Indra Vaughn, and out today at Amazon.com, is the story of Nicholas Blumfeld, known to the world as Nico Blue, rock star, and his former best friend, Jasper Hendricks, an out, gay, Catholic priest. The book examines the broken and strong places in these men, and how they deal with their call to love each other despite their commitments to their careers (and beliefs).
When we started working on this book, Indra and I both had a lot of research to do. I read up on rock stars and she read up on Catholic priests. What she found surprised us both: out, gay priests do exist (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/12/irish-priest-gay_n_6457808.html) and the Catholic Church isn’t turning their back on them (http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/04/17/3648333/catholic-priest-comes-gay-says-church-welcoming/).
The party line of the Church is that a priest must be celibate, and therefore, their sexuality isn’t an issue. Even the Pope has said, “Who am I to judge?”
This isn’t to say that discrimination doesn’t exist and that pressure to remain closeted isn’t high, but this information left plenty of room to freely imagine a character like Jasper: out, gay, and digging deep in the ministry of vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He’s a devout man, but with the mindset of a warrior priest, and I think he makes for an interesting twist on the typical priest-trope in a romance book.
Meanwhile, my research into the rock-n-roll lifestyle revealed that drugs seem to be part and parcel of the experience, and the character of Nicky wasn’t one to fight the current on that front. When we meet Nicky, he’s just off a tour that nearly killed him and his bandmates, and he’s desperate for a connection to something besides heroin. He decides to return to his hometown where he seeks out Jasper and confronts him about their past.
In the short excerpt below, we see where Nicky and Jasper begin again. With a start like this, how will they ever find their way together?
Excerpt
Jasper closed his eyes to breathe through it and let it go. Carefully, he brought himself back to the present moment before he stepped into the confessional. He settled and let the peace of the Lord fill him before he opened the sliding screen.
“Good morning,” he said softly, and brought his hand to his forehead. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.”
Beside him the stranger shifted and Jasper waited. He caught a woody, resinous scent that brought back memories of dark, long-forgotten nights on the island. His mind hadn’t played these kinds of cruel tricks on him in a long time, and his skin prickled with sweat. He tried to clear his head again.
The silence stretched on and Jasper’s heart fluttered in his chest as if this was his first confession and not one of thousands. He closed his eyes, unsettled, and grasped for peace of mind so he could grant this reticent stranger absolution in God’s name.
“Is this your first confession?”
There was no answer.
“I promise you don’t need to be ashamed or to feel shy. Through me God hears all penance.”
Mainly for sins that were mundane and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. He’d learned over the years that while he could offer God’s forgiveness, what people looked for was permission to forgive themselves.
“But we can pray silently if you’d like. God is here with us and He is patient.”
Jasper’s words went unanswered and so he sought the Lord’s help, praying as he waited, seeking the serenity he’d felt before he saw the man enter the confessional. He’d almost found what he was looking for when the man spoke, and Jasper’s eyes flew open.
“Bless me, Father,” Nicky said. “For I have sinned so much.”
*
Read advance reviews and find out more at Goodreads.
Blurb
Can a priest and a rock star obey love’s call?
Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld’s childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper’s calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.
Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He’s determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.
As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.
Jasper and Nicky’s careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past’s lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.
Bio
LETA BLAKE
Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.
You can find out more about her by following her online:
- On the web: http://letablake.wordpress.com/
- On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letablake
- On Twitter: https://twitter.com/LetaBlake
INDRA VAUGHN
In 2008 Indra Vaughn packed up everything but the kitchen sink… no, that’s a lie. She left everything behind apart from her books and moved from Belgium to Michigan. Then in 2015 she packed up nothing but a toddler and left far too many of her books behind to move from Michigan back to Belgium. Indra’s professional background is in Nursing and Chinese Medicine, but in the midst of the madness, she prefers to spend time making up stories about mysterious men and their unrequited love.
You can find out more about her by following her online:
- On the web: http://www.indravaughn.com
- On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indra.vaughn.7
- On Twitter: https://twitter.com/VaughnIndra
Giveaway
Leta and Indra are offering a choice of backlist book from either author to give away to TWO lucky readers Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Monday, September 14th 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.
- All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
- 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.
A priest and a rock star? That’s something I undoubtedly need to read… Sounds so good! 😉
Thank you, Susana! I hope you enjoy the book! 😀
I’ve read and loved books written by both authors so when i saw that they written a book together and it involves a Priest and a Rockstar i almost lost it LOL I definitely want to read Vespertine. I have a question i see that the book is on Amazon but will it also become available on Are? Thanks for this post, the teasing excerpt 😉 and the giveaway chance. And congrats to you both on the release of Vespertine
Hi Angela! Thank you so much! That’s a lot of fun to hear 🙂
We enrolled Vespertine in KU for the first 90 days, but after that it will be available everywhere else.
Leta & Indra <3
Thanks for the answer. I don’t know if i can wait that long LOL
Aw, thank you, Angela, for your enthusiasm! 😀
Congratulations Leta and Indra! This book looks really tempting! 😉 I love your works individually so I’m absolutely sure we have a unique jewel right here, can’t wait to read it!
Thank you so much, Alejandra! I hope you enjoy it! 😀
Sounds fantastic!!! Cant wait to read
Thank you, Janie! 😀 😀
This sounds like a wonderfully interesting read. Good luck with the sales Ladies!!
Thank you so much, Rick! 😀
This looks really good!
Thank you so much, Erin! 😀
A lifelong rock-star fixation and nine years of Catholic school combine to make this very intriguing to me!
LOL! Oh my, Trix! 😀 It seems you’re the perfect reader for this book! 😀 Thank you so much for your interest!
Congrats on the new release! Sounds really good. 🙂 Looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you, Lisa! 😀 Thrilled to hear of your interest!
This is definitely the first book I’ve seen with this premise. It just sounds like it wouldn’t work out, but I’m sure these authors make it work somehow. 🙂
😀 It is definitely the first one I’ve heard of with this premise, too. 😀 Thank you so much for your interest!
The excerpt was amazing! Can’t wait to read this!
Thanks, Sabrina! 😀 I hope you enjoy the book!
Hi!! 2 of my favorite authors coming together! Yay! I’m reading this now so do not need to win a copy but I wanted to say it’s so good so far! I’m loving Nicky especially! I’m warming up to Jazz too though! Congrats ladies!
Thank you, Suzanne! So happy to hear that you’re enjoying it! 😀 <3 <3
I have Kindle Unlimited so I was able to download Vespertine yesterday. I just finished reading it and the book is fabulous I couldn’t put it down. Five stars !! I definitely recommend it.
Thank you so much, Ardent! 😀 That is amazing to hear! So happy you enjoyed it!!
This sounds so interesting! Thanks for the post & giveaway!
Thank you for the interest! 😀
This sounds fantastic! I can’t wait to read about these two! Thanks for the chance to win.
Thank you so much for your interest, Rachel! 😀
Please count me in. Thanks.
Karl, thank you so much for your interest! 😀
I just saw this on another blog. I do not have Kindle Unlimited. Boo Hoo.
Debra, it is available the usual way on Amazon, too. 🙂 Thank you so much for your interest! I hope you enjoy the book!
And I thought September was so far away when the cover was revealed. 😛 I’m reading and loving it. <3
Aw, yay! This makes me happy to hear! Hope you love it all the way through! <3
Congratulations to two of my favorite authors combined! Bought the book today and can’t wait to read it!
Thank you, Julie! 😀 We hope you love it!!
Wow. This sounds so good. I’ve read a few rock star books and a few priest books, but never one with both.
I bet I have this one before the weekend is over. Congrats on the release. 🙂
Thank you, Barbra! We hope you enjoy the book! And, haha, yeah, the premise was a fun one to explore!
Congrats on your newest release. Just started reading this book and already LOVE it! Thanks for the chance!
Thank you, Jennifer! We’re thrilled that you’re enjoying it so much! 😀
This sounds intriguing. Thanks for the great post and the giveaway!
Thank you for the interest, Antonia! We hope you enjoy the book! 😀
An out gay priest and rock star? Well this is new and I’m intrigued. Thank you for the giveaway chance!
Haha! Yes, the premise is a fun one! 😀 We hope you enjoy the book!!
I already read the book and absolutely loved it. If it had been possible to read it in one sitting I would have, but alas there are things like sleeping and going to work which are not optional. Great collaboration!
Oh my goodness, A! Thank you so so so much! 😀
Vespertine definitely has a premise that calls to me. Thanks for an informative review and for the giveaway.
Please count me in.
What a great premise, you two. Thanks so much for sharing the background on this. I’m sold!
I am reading Vespertine right now and I love it. I can’t put it down. I didn’t think I wanted to read it but was persuaded when I read a post in which you described the research done to make sure the facts were accurate. Thank you for that article because I would have missed out reading a wonderful book!