Triple Threat weekend Giveaway! {Day 1, Stuck In Oz with Andrew Grey} ~ '

Tales from Kansas, book #2

When Jeremy and Petey’s mother died, their house was taken to pay the debts she left behind, leaving them homeless. Afraid Petey will be put in foster care, they have no one to turn to but their Uncle Milt, so they pack up Jeremy’s beat-up car and leave San Diego for Wamego, Kansas.

They arrive in the middle of a snowstorm and stop at the local diner to contact their uncle, where they meet Nate. Nate and his aunt help them contact Uncle Milt, and he agrees to help.

Jeremy and Nate hit it off quickly, but Jeremy runs when he’s made to believe their new home isn’t permanent. Nate goes after him, finds him, and convinces him that he’s wanted. However, just as Jeremy and Nate begin to trust each other, Petey’s estranged father appears and threatens to tear Jeremy’s new life and fledgling family apart.

Jeremy and his little brother Petey lost their mother recently and are now travelling across country with little to no money and everything they own in boxes in the back seat of the car. They've never had a relationship with thier uncle Milt, but he is the only family they have left now, and Jeremy has no where else to go. So he's packed up and headed for Kansas in hopes his uncle will take them in.

Milt didn't even know his sister had another son, little Petey, until Jeremy and Petey show up at the local diner asking to stay with him. Milt had a falling out with his family long ago when he came out, so he didn't get to be an active part of her's or the boys lives. With his sister gone, the only connection he has left to her are her sons. It's a little shakey to start, but soon Milt, Jeremy and Petey bond.

Nate is not technically in the closet, but he's not waving his flag proudly either. He's immediately drawn to the young, naive newcomer and does his best to make sure Jeremy is aware of the attraction. Jeremy isn't blind, but he's very leary of acting on his sexuality after growing up with his homophobic mother who cut off all contact with her own brother after he came out. Nate is patient though and slowly works his way under Jeremy's resolve with sweat endearments, flowers and dates. But someone from Jeremy and Petey's life back in California has found them, and threatens to destroy the foundation they are building in Kansas.

Two words, Andrew Grey. That is really all you need to know in order to want to buy and read this book. Just sayin. But I'll elaborate. Grey is one of the best writers in the genre that is for sure, and I think the reason is he is ever evolving with his writing. He always brings in three dimensional characters that are flawed and live in the real world with problems and issues much like we all face in our daily lives. They are easily relatable and the reader cannot help but get invested with the people he writes about. With this particular story, less is more is what worked best.

Jeremy and Nate aren't the sexiest couple I've read, but they are very passionate and sensual. Their relationship is young, fresh and beautiful so an erotic storyline for them wouldn't have worked as well. I am all for the hot and heavy, don't get me wrong, but the obvious inexperience they exude mixed with Nate's confidence and aggression and Jeremy's naivete make for such a beautiful story. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout and the characters were endearing, I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend you read it. I'm quite excited and anticipating Milt and Luke's story! Write faster Andrew!!

Andrew Grey is the best selling author of many gay themed novels. From mystery and suspense to cowboys and rodeo and all the way to Oz, Grey has written some of the best contemporary gay fiction that is available to date.

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation. Andrew's hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world's most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

For a complete listing of his works, visit his Amazon page. And feel free to stalk his website or Goodreads pages as well.

~ What inspires you to write? I get inspired by the people and places around me. I feel that stories are everywhere and I try to write those that I would want to read. I have been inspired by stories on the radio, in the newspaper, works of art, places I’ve visited. There are times when I have no idea what will inspire me, but I know something is always just around the corner. All I need to do is be open to it.

~ For those not familiar with this series, Tales From Kansas, could you share a few details? This series centers around I small town in Kansas that I visited when I was on a business trip. I visited Wamego and the town left an impression on me, so I centered a series of stories around it.

~ What was the concept behind this particular story in the series? I started with the idea that sometimes the family you get isn’t the one you need. But when you find the one that’s right, hold on and don’t let go.

~ Why did you chose to write in the M/M genre? I am gay and writing about men and women falling in love didn’t seem real to me. I wanted to write about people like me. Gay people deserve to find love and be happy, the same as anyone else. I also feel its important that everyone be able to see themselves in a book. This was my attempt for me to see myself.

~ Do you have a routine or ritual when you're writing? Yes, I generally get up in the morning, clear email and things, and then settle in to write until nearly noon. I take a break for lunch, clear email once again, do other work, and then write in the afternoon. It doesn’t always work as I have things that interfere, but I try to keep my mornings uninterrupted at least.

~ Are there any other books or a sequel in the works? Trapped in Oz will come out later this year. This story features two new characters, but the ones you love are part of the story.

~ As a huge fan of your work, I have to ask, how do you keep your stories fresh, exciting and new? It requires work and telling each characters story. I try very hard not to reuse plot lines and to make my stories different and exciting. I like to think I’m always moving forward and not looking back. As writers we grow and change and as long as we’re going that, the stories will be new and exciting because as a writer we are different.

Fun Stuff!

~ Black or White - Black

~ Day or Night – Day

~ Coffee or Tea – I don’t drink either

~ Pen or Pencil – Pen

~ E-reader or Print – e-Reader

~ Theater or DVD – DVD

~ Rock or Country – Classical

A huge thank you to Andrew Grey for visiting with us today, and sharing some of his thoughts on this fantastic new series. Don't forget to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win one of Grey's books!