Today I am so pleased to welcome AF Henley to Joyfully Jay. AF has come to talk to us about her latest release, Wolf, WY (Book 1 of the Wolf Series). She has also brought along aย greatย tour-wideย giveaway. ย Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
Welcome back to the Wolf, WY Tiny Teasers Blog Tour and Giveaway, and a warm hello to those who might be joining for the first time. We’ve been wandering through the pages of Wolf, WY and getting a quick introduction to the characters and locale by way of “tiny teasers” from the novel.
I’ve been debating how to introduce this post for some time. You see, I’ve done something that I disapprove of within this genre โ I’ve made one of the female characters into a villain. Not the villain, but a villainous participant nonetheless. I absolutely hate the stereotypical ideal that a woman in a gay romance story automatically becomes a negative influence. Mommie Dearest (or evil ex-wife, overbearing female bestie, mean sister) has its place of course, unfortunately it’s overused in M/M fiction. I understand that women aren’t the enemy and I can say without doubt that the female influences in my life have been most appreciated and welcome. Requisite side note (i.e., if I ever want her to drop by with a pan of lasagna again): My mother is awesome and supportive and in no way indicative of the below-mentioned character. Happy, Mom? ๐
Unfortunately in Wolf, WY’s case it was one or the other and I couldn’t lose the other. So please, forgive me.
Before I get into the introduction however, I want to remind you that these posts aren’t just about the excerpts from the novel. There’s also a giveaway โ a single grand prize that includes a signed copy of Wolf, WY, a $20 LT3 gift certificate, and a Wind & Fire paw print bangle that not only looks cool, is not only manufactured with some very cool concepts, but that also supports a good cause. Be sure to read through to the end to find out more details on the prizes and how to participate.
With that out of the way, please allow me to introduce Wolf, WY’s next character, Randy Connor’s mother, the Honorable Mary Carleton-Connor:
Excerpt
Tiny Teaser: Introducing โ The Hon. Mary Carleton-Connor
His mother took a long, deep breath, and both Randy and his father glanced at each other before looking her way. “Well you know, Randy, we’re all still the same back home. You can always come back.” She tilted her head and stared at Randy with what he liked to think of as her mind-melting glare. “Where you belong.”
Randy nodded and offered her a quick smile. “I appreciate that, Mom. I really do. But I think I’m going to tough it out here for a while yet.” He hoped the statement would be enough to pacify her. He should have known better. He almost groaned out loud when she slipped her glasses off her face and set them on the table.
“You know, Randy…” She steepled her fingers together and rested them under her chin.
From his peripheral vision, Randy saw his father flash a warning look. “Mary…”
She ignored the warning. “Avery stopped by my office the other day.”
The walls began to shake. The chairs they sat on screeched and trembled as the floor tried to toss them aside. Small ornaments and dishes fell to the tile, smashing into bits. Lighting swayed, and plaster crumbled off the walls to land in great puffs of dust. His father turned to scream at him, “Get under cover! We’ve been hit!”
Randy shook his head and told his imagination to knock it off. Nothing bigger than a fruit fly was moving in the air around them. He struggled to keep a grip on both composure and reality, and took a second to brush nonexistent lint off his shirt. “Oh?”
“He was asking about you.”
Oh, was he now? Randy thought, picturing himself jumping out of the chair and screaming the words at the top of his voice. Was he really?
Once again Randy reined in his internal role-play, and offered his mother a smile. What he wanted to say, after he’d worked up the requisite level of sarcasm, was: And can I assume, Mom, that you told him to go fuck himself? That you said your son had been through enough with his infidelity already, and if he didn’t leave the premises you’d have him escorted out by Security? That’s what you said, right, Ma?
What he managed to say was another, “Oh?”
“Apparently he’d stopped by the firm and they told him that you had left town. He was so concerned that he rushed right over to see me.”
Randy closed his eyes to hide the eye-roll that he couldn’t have stopped if he’d tried. That had no doubt been a good boost for Avery’s ego. A little story to share with the new boyfriends, a laugh they could have at his expenseโdistraught ex destroys his own career, home, and sanity after being dumped by partner. Never was completely there, if you know what I mean… Avery taps his temple… Sweet enough guy and all, but a person like me needs more than sweet, am I right?
“I see.”
“He and Michael have called it quits, you know.”
Randy frowned, masking disgust with confusion. “He and who?”
“Don’t be a smartass, Randy. You know who I’m talking about. The young man from the gym that he was seeing after the two of you broke up.”
Rather than keep trying to avoid his mother’s gaze, Randy stood and started clearing the table, despite his earlier insistence of waiting. But try as he might to distract himself in an attempt to hold his tongue, the words still cameโฆ
Wolf, WY Excerpt
ยฉ AF Henley, 2015
Blurb
There’s nothing like a fresh start, and for Randy, still nursing wounds left by a cheating ex and harboring a deep mistrust for all things corporate, Wolf, Wyoming seems like the perfect place to start over. Secluded, quiet, and self-sufficient, Wolf is bound to not only inspire, but to bring Randy the peace he needs. The view’s not bad, either.
Vaughn O’Connell and his family are Randy’s only neighbors for miles, and while Randy knows it’s somewhat unlikely that a man with three kids is gay, it doesn’t hurt to look. When a misunderstanding brings Randy face to face with both Vaughn and his eighteen year old son, Lyle, Randy’s not sure what to feel about either of them.
But things are not what they appear in Wolf, and the closer Randy gets, the stranger the O’Connell family seems…
Word Count: 70,000
Genre: Gay, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Notes: Wolf, WY contains some explicit content
Bio
Henley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica. A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for โresearch purposesโ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, tend to flourish.
Henley has been proudly publishing with Less Than Three Press since 2012, and has been writing like mad ever sinceโan indentured servant to the belief that romance and true love can mend the most broken soul. Even when presented in prose.
For more information please stop by for a visit at afhenley.com.
Giveaway
AF has brought a tour-wide giveawayย for one lucky winner overย the entire tour. The prize consists of a ‘Wind & Fire’ paw print charm bangle (a portion of the sales from this “Charms For Charity Bangle” goes directly to Guiding Eyes For The Blind), a $20 Gift Certificate to the Less Than Three Press book market (free books!), and a signed, print copy of Wolf, WY. Just follow the Rafflecopter link below to enter.
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6cc2dd0716/
- By entering the giveaway, youโre confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- By entering you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions set out by Rafflecopter for entries.
- 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.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Considering this is some of the only M/M fiction I read xD I’ve never noticed the evil mother trend. ย Though i do see it almost everywhere. ย Somehow in either rich or well off families. ย Those with social standing at the least, it somehow always falls on the Mother to be the evil “don’t allow people to know you’re human” person. ย Always the one trying to meddle and manipulate.
I’ve always been happy that I’ve never known such a person to actually exist. ย They’re like a caricature of someone’s own nightmare. ย xD ย More a fear or a plot device than an actual person.
The mother does create an interesting contrast with the father. ย So even if she breaks your rules, she does do a beautiful job here.
Thanks Jack! I’m glad you think so. ๐
I’ve been pretty blessed myself. My Mom, for one, rocks and I love her to pieces. <3
Again, thanks for sticking with the tour and commenting. It's been too much fun. ๐
Another great excerpt and It sounds like Randy has a formidable Mother!
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
Great word, Shirley! I love it. ๐
Glad you’re enjoying and thank you for joining me on the tour! It’s been great to read your comments. Best of luck with the giveaway. <3
Now I’m going to be on the lookout for evil mothers as I read! Thanks for a thoughtful post, an intriguing excerpt, and the giveaway.
LOL! Just wait for book two. XDย
And that’s not a spoiler, at least I don’t think it is. Well… maybe. Kind of . ๐
Good luck with the giveaway! Thanks for commenting! <3
I personally think and believe that controlling and overbearing mothers are too common in real life for them to not play a role in stories, m/m or whatever mainstream books are out there. I think you did a splendid job there portraying why Randy did leave. If I was Randy, *looks pointedly at the author* I would leave too.ย
*grins* And look, the countdown begins! *cheers*
Only one more day! *dances while you cheer* ๐
Thank you very much. I’m grateful and thrilled that you can sympathize with Randy. <3
Good luck and thanks for commenting!
Randy has quite the imagination, but I suppose he needs it to get through such conversations with his mother. ย And, I loved your note to your own mother. ย ๐
I can’t be the only one that has little imagined stories going on in my head while I’m in conversation, can I? XD
Thank you! My Mom is awesome. And she really could kick my @ss if she wanted to, so… LOL
Good luck with the giveaway and thanks for commenting! <3
Love to hate the evil mom. There’s always the hope that she bites it in the end.
Bites it, hmm… well, you know that term is somewhat ironic. See, in book two… Wait! No spoilers! XD
Seriously, though, thank you very much for reading and commenting! Good luck with the giveaway. <3
I never really looked for evil mothers. ย I do remember some nice ones though.
debby236 at gmail dot com
I love the portrayal of a good parental figure. To be honest, I rarely use the mom as the scapegoat because I’ve got such a nice mom that I tend to feel guilty when I do. XD
(And I swear I’m not just saying that, Mom!)
Thanks for joining the giveaway and commenting! Good luck <3
I’ve seen plenty of books with good and evil mothers. I take better note of the good ones over the evil ones since the evil always have me a bit in a tizzy. Randy’s mother just seems like a mother that wants her son to have someone there for him even if it’s a jerk ex.
Aw, thank you! That is such a sweet thought! I like that a lot.
Good luck with the giveaway and thank you again for taking part in the tour! <3
I’d certainly be saying some nasty words, but what does Randy say? *pouts* Why you leave us hanging??
When I saw this comment I had to come running over right away to respond. ๐
Because I have my own brand of evil, I guess? ๐
Thank you very much, you made my night! I’m thrilled to know that I’ve inspired some intrigue. LOL
Good luck with the giveaway <3
LOL, I’m suspecting an ingenious plot on your plot to ensure I buy the book. And it’s working!
Woo hoo! ๐
Why do I imagine you sitting back there mumbling, “NO PRESSURE! I’M JUST EXPECTING COMPLETE FABULOUSNESS!” though? LOL
Oh, man… I wanted to see the reply to his mom! ๐ I need to get this book! Thanks!