Guest Author - Dianne Hartsock

Happy New Year! Thank you, Doris, for having me as a guest on your lovely site today. I have to say, I’m starting the New Year off with a bang! At the moment, I’m deep in edits for my m/m erotic fantasy story, Nathaniel, coming out soon from Etopia Press. Also, I have a contemporary m/m erotic with Breathless Press, Eran’s Release, coming out in their Ad-dick-tion anthology this spring.

But it wasn’t always like this. A year ago I was sitting at the keyboard like I am now, chin on hand, debating whether or not to hit the send key and whisk Shelton in Love off to Breathless Press. I’d never written an erotic romance before and wasn’t sure how it would be received.

Keep in mind, I’d never had anything published before, and my confidence wasn’t at its highest. I wish I could tell you there was a magic formula to follow, do A then B then C, and you’ll be published. But it just doesn’t work that way. I’ve been submitting for years without success.

This time last year I’d finished writing my paranormal/thriller novel ALEX and submitted it to Solstice Publishing with crossed fingers. But there was one particular scene in the story that stayed with me. At one point Alex is at an art festival in the park. He’s looking at some sketches from local artists when he glances up and meets a lovely pair of amber eyes. He blinks as a jolt of electricity passes between them. There was a heat to this scene I’d only touched on before. I know I smiled as my first m/m erotic began to take shape in my mind.  

Right after sending Shelton in Love off, I wrote a short ghost story, The Trials of a Lonely Specter, then began immediately on Shelton’s Promise. Once they’d been accepted by various publishers, I started on Eran’s Release and Shelton’s Choice. Oh yea, and I’d been working on Nathaniel off and on during the year.

Do you see what I’m doing here? I didn’t stop with one story, working to get that one published. I write one and send it out. I write another and send it out. When one’s rejected, I go back over it, searching for what’s missing. I rework it and try again.

So here I am at the beginning of 2012 with four stories and one novel published, and two romances coming out soon. Do you think I’m done? No way! I promote these stories EVERY DAY. I socialize with readers EVERY DAY. And I work on my current WIP, yes, every day. I’m also a full time floral designer with a husband and two college age children.

 The only way I’m managing is by using a day planner. I keep track of my blog tour dates and deadlines for interviews/blogs. I meet the timelines set by my editors. And I priorities: family first, creative writing second, promos third. And I’ve gotten very good at juggling!

But you know what, there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing with my time. I think the only way to survive as an author is to love what you do. And I’m head-over-heels. Seeing my name on a beautiful book cover is one of the most fulfilling things in my life.

I’d like to leave you with an excerpt from my resent m/m erotic romance Shelton’s Choice.

Shelton’s Choice

Breathless Press: http://www.breathlesspress.com/sheltons-choice

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sheltons-Choice-ebook/dp/B006PHIRLQ/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324771074&sr=1-5

After a year of bliss with Nevil, Shelton is offered the promotion he's been working toward at the bank. Unfortunately the new position is in another state, and Nevil doesn't want to move. As tension mounts between them, Shelton is given another challenge in the form of a besotted coworker. Torn between the pressures at work and at home, Shelton has to choose his future. That is, until Nevil takes the decision out of his hands.

Excerpt:

"Andrew?" he asked as he opened the door. "Do you need something?" Shelton felt the heat rise in his face when the man lifted a brow.

"May I come in? Just for a moment." Andrew clarified when Shelton hesitated.

"This really isn't a good time." Shelton bit his lip when the man shouldered passed him through the door he'd started to close. He still held Nevil's ring and slipped it into his pocket. Andrew glanced into the empty rooms, then turned to Shelton.

"You seem to be alone," he said, and his gaze raked Shelton head to toe.

Shelton grimaced, feeling like he'd just been undressed. "For the moment. What do you want that you couldn't tell me at the office?"

Andrew moved closer to him, and Shelton drew a sharp breath at the naked desire in the man's dark eyes. Andrew stood several inches taller than him, and Shelton had to fight the urge to step back.

"You should leave," he managed to say before the full lips descended on his. He wrenched his mouth free and fumbled for the door handle behind him.

Andrew put an arm on either side of him, holding the door closed. "Come on. What's the problem? You know I've wanted you. And since you're leaving anyway, where's the harm in a little fun?"

Before Shelton could answer, Andrew dropped his hand to the small of Shelton's back and pulled him closer. This is ridiculous! He wasn't the fainting heroine of some romance novel. A well-placed knee would put an end to the man's obvious interest, but what then? Shelton had never been in a fight in his life. How embarrassing to have to explain to Nevil if something got broken. Especially if it was him.

The thought made Shelton angry. "Andrew, you have one minute to leave or I'll call the police."

Andrew looked down at him, his smile mocking. "And tell them what? You let me in, remember? Besides, do you really want to explain to them what I'm doing here? I don't suppose they'd be sympathetic." He ground a fascinatingly large erection against Shelton's hip as he whispered in Shelton's ear, "You got the job in Denver over me. The least you could do is let me suck on you. Your cock has to be as beautiful as the rest of you."

Shelton's temper snapped. "Don't be a fool. Just because Nevil and I are having a fight doesn't mean I'll play around with you. Now get the hell out."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I tell the police you raped me. They'll listen to that."

Anger swept over the handsome face. Andrew grabbed the back of Shelton's head and gave him a bruising kiss, the tongue plunging deep, choking him. He then let him go with a sneer. "Your loss, babe. Have a nice life."

Shelton stared at the door after Andrew left. Did he really just say that? What an ass. He ran a hand over his curls, suddenly exhausted from a sleepless night and a roller coaster of emotions. Sighing, he went to the bedroom to lie down for a minute.

*  *  *

Shelton woke a few hours later, still drowsy. He tried to catch the tendrils of the erotic dream he'd been enjoying, but they faded much too quickly, as did the sensation of Nevil's lips sliding over his penis. Still painfully aroused, Shelton rolled to his side and opened the drawer on the nightstand. He smiled in delighted anticipation. Nevil had returned the silk scarves and toy he'd used on Shelton, squeaky clean.

Nevil's own vibrator had been pushed to the back of the drawer, and Shelton ran his fingers over it, remembering his lover’s shuddering pleasure as Shelton slid it slowly into his ass. It was larger than Shelton's toy, and he frowned slightly, wondering if there were men really that big. He remembered being held against Andrew Blake's body. The man's pole had pushed hard into his hip. Andrew's penis might have been that large...

Shelton scowled and tossed the unwanted vibrator to the back of the drawer, then grabbed the lubricant and his own toy. After wiggling under the covers, he lay on his side and squeezed the jelly onto the end of the vibrator. He stroked himself, wishing Nevil was there to play with him. He thought of Nevil's hot mouth on the tip of his erection, sucking him, the skillful tongue sliding over the slit and driving him crazy with pleasure. He pressed the vibrator Nevil had given him against his hole and nudged it inside. He groaned into the pillow as it slipped past the initial resistance and went in deliciously deep. He slid it in and out, imagining it was Nevil's glorious penis inside him.

When his arm tired, Shelton found the right spot with the vibrator's bent tip and turned it on. He moaned as tingling pleasure spread through his body. He settled into the mattress and stroked his erection, the slippery lubricant on his hand heating with the friction.

Shelton kept the vibrator on its lowest setting, letting the orgasm build slowly in his scrotum. In his mind, he kissed Nevil and slid his tongue down his lover's silky skin, pausing a moment to lick the hard buds on his sculpted chest before continuing lower. His orgasm came in a shattering surge of pleasure as he imagined taking Nevil's hard length into his mouth.

Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to contact me.

Dianne Hartsock

Email: diannewrites2@hotmail.com

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

FB: http://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock