Virtual Book Tour: M/M ~ Surrounded by Crimson by Lexi Ander ~ (Author Interview, Excerpt + Giveaway)
Author Name: Lexi Ander
Book Name: Surrounded by Crimson
Series: Sumeria’s Sons
Book: Four
Series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment.
Release Date: July 1, 2015
Buy The Book:
Blurb:
Tristan has agreed to bond with Ushna but there is still much to do and returning to Tribe Enkidu puts everyone on edge. Tristan is being stalked like prey all the while fighting depression as he mourns the loss of Nikita and enduring a battle of wills with the Elder Council over his birthright. The pleading of his adoptive daughter only adds still more stress to the situation.
Stumbling onto a secret prison while searching for Ushna leads Tristan to risk everything to free a lost God. But breaking the tie to his Flame has more repercussions than Tristan knew and the assistance of a forgotten Goddess and a centuries old lover may not be enough to save him.
Pages or Words: 48,000 words
Categories: M/M Romance, Menage/Poly, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Excerpt:
Ushna was out of the car and greeting his parents before I unbuckled the seatbelt. Hami wasn't as tall as his son but he was wide, very wide, barrel-chested with a set of deltoids on him the size of small children. His dark hair was cut above the ears and I'd never seen the man without at least three days growth of facial hair. It looked good on him. That kind of scruff made me resemble a bum.
Donya was tall and lean, one of those women who had a natural sway when she walked. Her blue-black hair fell to her waist in thick glossy waves. Her skin was a deep almond, darker than her husband's or son's, and her bright, emerald-green eyes were large and expressive.
They both greeted Ushna with festive exuberance, and why not? I'd kept him away from them for a very long time. I observed them for a moment over the hood of the SUV. Hami picked his son up in a bear hug, laughing loud and boisterous. Donya took his face between her palms as she gazed deeply into his bi-colored eyes—eyes that were forever changed by me. At that thought, I wondered how they truly perceived me. My stomach rolled with anxiety-induced queasiness.
With all the grace of someone my size, I made my way into the house, leaving Ushna to his family reunion. I had hoped we wouldn't see them until after the children were born. I'd entered the home stretch of my pregnancy. Even with the ring of illusion, I had a hard time hiding my condition. Early in my pregnancy, Gregori had fashioned a ring of magic, creating the illusion that hid my continually growing stomach and constructed a normal appearance.
A pregnant male wasn't something we wanted to explain to humans. With the looming threat of assassination, if my identity was discovered, we thought it best to continue to keep my birthright a secret until after the children were born. So I'd continue to wear the illusion even though the ring wasn't much help now. The giveaway was in the walk and the way I stood. People could see there was something different by how I held my body and it couldn't be helped. I was able to hurry, in spurts, and then I lumbered like an elephant—very National Geographic.
Neesie followed me into the kitchen. She was dressed differently than what I'd become accustomed to. Gone were the combat boots, black jeans, and white tees. She wore a pale blue silk blouse, a pinstriped pencil skirt, and knee-high black stiletto boots. She appeared fierce in a whole new way.
"Why didn't you wait and greet Ushna's parents?" she asked.
With a plate in hand, I inspected the cold cuts tray that sat on the kitchen counter. I was starved and wanted something quick to eat before everyone came in. When I didn't answer Neesie, she took the plate from me and started placing fresh vegetables on it.
"I thought I'd give them some time to catch up," I finally replied. It wasn't a complete lie. "They haven't had their son to themselves in quite some time. They don't need me hanging out in the background."
Neesie pinned me with her golden-brown gaze. "That is such bullshit and you know it. What's the real issue?"
I quirked a smile at her. "You know I love ya?"
"Yes, and you're the one who called me for dating advice because you suck at subtle. Your 'hey moron, get your hands off my sister' ranked right up there."
"I can't help it if Mr. Octopus Arms was oblivious to his audience."
"Go ahead and keep playing that song because I know you still refer to him as Lonnie Fucking-Fowler. Before you walked into the house, your face turned green and you practically sprinted in here."
"Ahh, stampede!" I gave mock crowd screams. Neesie was not impressed.
"Spill, jackass." She shoved a full plate into my hands and a chair under my ass. Neesie glared at me but her expression was filled with concern.
"Fine, you tyrant. I wanted to make a good impression. I wanted to be able to show them that I am a strong partner and worthy of their son's love and devotion. But right now I'm huge, and miserable, and swollen, and hungry. Why did you give me carrots? You know I hate carrots. You're trying to torture me, aren't you? I'm an elephant, not a rabbit. I get like peanuts or something, not Bugs Bunny hand-me-downs." I threw the carrot at my cackling sister. The woman was not remorseful.
"Tristan."
I threw another carrot at Neesie before turning to see who called for me. I swallowed a curse as I faced Donya. She stood in the doorway, her large green eyes soft and liquid as she searched my expression.
"Ma'am?" Embarrassingly, my voice cracked like I was fourteen years old.
"How can we not be proud of you, son?" Donya crossed the room in a smooth glide and gently took me in her arms. "We've always been proud of you, Tristan, don't ever believe differently." Tentatively I embraced her in return and ignored Neesie's sniffles.
Author Interview:
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Lexi Ander author of Surrounded by Crimson (Sumeria's Sons, 4).
Hi Lexi, thank you for agreeing to this interview.
Thank you for having over today!
Was there a basis for you story? A previous experience or something else?
Reading preference, really. I wrote a story that I wanted to read, but couldn't find where someone had already written it. There are consequences for actions in real life and when that isn't reflected in something I'm reading, it's annoying. People demand retribution for a wrong doing, even if it's only an apology. If someone is a jerk in the story and hurts the other character, but the behavior/words aren't addressed then I have a habit of becoming and staying miffed through the story. I understand the lure of flawed characters. We are all flawed in some way. Yet, were are good people, for the most part, and we don't condone bad behavior and will speak up against it. As readers, many times we identify with a character and when they are wronged, we are wronged.
So the series started because I'd read several books in a row of mates behaving badly and that behavior didn't have a consequence.
What skills do you think a writer needs?
The mechanics of writing can be learned but we need to know who to be convincing storytellers. After that, I think we all need patience, perseverance, courage, humility, to listen twice as much as we speak, and the ability to walk away when our skin isn't thick enough.
What for you is the perfect book hero?
A geeky, humorous dominant alpha character that can make themselves vulnerable to others.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Editing because I'm ready to start a new story and writing the last story in a series. The second one is hard because I'm constantly double checking to make sure all the strings are pulled together so they can be wrapped up.
Tell us about your favorite childhood book.
I don't remember many of childhood books. I know I read Judy Bloom but I couldn't say which ones. I liked Trixie Belden mysteries. I hated Charlotte's Web. I remember reading my first fantasy novel in the seventh grade and thinking, "Wow! I love this!" but I couldn't tell you the book title or the author. I remember the cover though, at least I think I do. Now, in the tenth grade I read everything my school library had of Louis L'Amour's. To this day I own the leather bound copy of most of his books. That year I also "discovered" Frank Herbert's Dune, Terry Brooks, and Stephen R. Donaldson.
Thank you for stopping by and reading! Good luck in the giveaway!
About the author:
Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.
Where to find the author:
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6521302.Lexi_Ander
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Cover Artist: Londen Burden
Tour Dates & Stops:
27-Jul
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31-Jul
3-Aug
4-Aug
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7-Aug
Rafflecopter Prize:
Prize offered: $20 Amazon Gift card, $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)
$20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)
hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)
e-book copy of Surrounded by Crimson
e-book copy of Surrounded by Crimson
a Rafflecopter giveaway
