Virtual Book Tour ~ Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell (Guest Post + Giveaway)

Virtual Book Tour ~ Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell (Guest Post + Giveaway)

Hi, I’m Barbara Bell, romance author extraordinaire, and welcome to the blog tour for my debut novella Cutie Pies! Over the next week I will be travelling the internet sharing some thoughts on my book. Follow along and join the discussion!

About Cutie Pies

Joey works at Cutie Pies, the smallest adult store in Sydney. After his parents kicked him out years ago, the haphazard shop became his home away from home and is the only place where he can embrace his queer, quirky, and—okay—sometimes a little awkward self.

When Mick, a new-to-town customer, walks in asking for a dildo, Joey thinks it’s all a part of the day’s work. Except Mick’s large dark eyes, shy smile, and kissable lips—along with the ten-inch dildo he bought—quickly win him a starring role in Joey’s nightly fantasies.

Joey can’t stop thinking about him, and Mick’s continued visits to the store make him even harder to forget. Mick is shy and sweet, but also secretive and uncertain. As the two grow closer together, Joey starts to wonder what Mick really wants from him, and whether he can risk falling in love with someone who might not be free to love him back.

Welcome to Oxford Street - The Setting for Cutie Pies

There was never any question in my mind where Cutie Pies would take place. From the moment I decided I wanted to write a story about two men meeting and falling in love in a sex shop, I knew it had to be set on Oxford Street.

Bright and colourful in some places, delightfully sleazy in others, Oxford has served as the historical home of the LGBT community in Sydney for decades. It hosts the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade (the biggest pride celebration in Australia), has been the location for countless queer marches and rallies, and is one of the best nightlife spots in town. If you ever wondered where the ladies from Pricilla Queen of the Desert came from, this is it.

It is also both an inspiration of and the perfect place to set Cutie Pies.

And so, as a bit of a personal ‘thank you’ to Oxford, and to celebrate the release of my first novella, I thought I would share some photos I’ve taken on Oxford Street over the last year. Hopefully you can see past my less-than-perfect photography and catch a peek at this queer Aussie gem.

See above: the rainbow flag flying over Taylor Square, the highest point on Oxford Street, the local ‘Lick-Her’ (alternatively spelt ‘liquor’) shop, and the pink triangle outside Sydney’s very own Stonewall Hotel.

Grab your feather boa, it’s Mardi Gras! These photos were taken from my vantage point in the crowd during the 2017 Mardi Gras parade.

Cutie Pies the sex shop might be fictional, but there are plenty of real sex shops on Oxford Street, each one gayer than the last. Be sure to check them out if you’re ever in town! The people that run them are lovely.

Last but certainly not least, Oxford Street filled with thousands of celebrating people on the 15^th of November 2017, the day Australia voted ‘yes’ for marriage equality. This photo is my favourite.

That’s it! I hoped those photos gave you a feel for Oxford Street and for the setting of my story Cutie Pies. You can get Cutie Pies where ebooks are sold, and don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance at an ecopy of the book!

Cheers,

Barb

About Barbara Bell

Barbara Bell grew up on a sheep farm in rural Australia, moved to Brisbane when she was nineteen to study film, and now lives in Sydney with an ever changing cast of housemates and a colony of bees.

She is an avid traveller, a proud geek, and loves telling stories about human relationships and how strange and silly (but also beautiful) they can be. She began writing when she was eleven years old and believes it's probably too late to break the habit now.

Giveaway

To celebrate this release, one lucky winner will receive a copy of Cutie Pies! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 24, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.