Gays of our Lives (Queers of La Vista series) by @SmutTasticKris - Spotlight, Guest Post & #giveaway #mmromance @RiptideBooks

Emerson Robinette only leaves his apartment to get laid and go to work. Having MS—and trying to pretend he doesn’t—makes everything more complicated, especially his fantasies of coming on strong and holding a guy down. Finding a partner who’ll explore that with him isn’t Emerson’s idea of a realistic goal.

Until a chance meeting with a hipster on a bus makes him reconsider. Obie is happy, open-hearted, and warm; what’s more, he gets his kicks being physically dominated, spanked, and teased until he’s begging. It would be perfect, except for one thing: Emerson isn’t made for happiness, and he doesn’t see how a guy like Obie would settle for a cynic like him.

But as far as Obie’s concerned, the only thing keeping them apart is Emerson. Can Emerson handle a boyfriend who’s more invested in his future than he is? Emerson’s barely convinced he has a future. But when Obie’s smiling at him, anything seems possible.

Buy links: Riptide | Amazon

Real Deets | Guest post from Author Kris Ripper...

Some of my absolutely favorite moments in fiction—the ones that stick with me forever—are the silliest, or the most mundane. Much like situational comedy, one of the irresistible temptations of fiction writing is to incorporate sort of…meaningless moments into stories, to deepen characters, to progress the plot, or just for fun.

The reason I find these moments resonant is because they happen all the time in real life. The most successful cold open to any crime show on television is a depiction of a relatable character. Who that is will be different for everyone (and let’s be clear; on TV the vast majority of cold open victims are pretty young white women), but if you see yourself in a character, you’re far more likely to read that book or watch that show.

I don’t write a lot of things that are based on actual events. None of my books are autobiographical, but I do, from time to time, have fun adding little bits in here and there.

So this one time, on Facebook… (And yes, points to you if you just heard that in Alyson Hannigan’s voice.)

Social media doesn’t come easily to me. I’d love to be one of those folks whose anxiety about interacting with humans was limited to only the humans I’m in a physical location with, but unfortunately I get heart-poundingly, palm-sweatingly anxious online, too. I joined, somewhat against my instincts, a Facebook group called Hassell and Hall, run by a couple of scribblers (who are also, not coincidentally, called Hassell and Hall).

“Facebook group!” I scoffed to myself. “I don’t even like groups! What, talking to people? DISTINCTLY UNLIKELY.”

So, you know, I lurked. You understand. I lurked along the fringes, never posting, very occasionally risking a drafted/revised/proofed comment, and I only posted maybe two percent of the comments I initially drafted.

And then there was this day. And this video. No. This one. This totally random video, which had nothing at all to do with anything, that was Sir Ian McKellan. Making eggs.

Some of you right now are scratching your heads, wondering if you’re thinking of the right Sir Ian McKellan. You are. You so are.

The rest of you are going, “Aw, hell yes! I love that video! I’m gonna quit reading this blog right now and go watch it again!”

No, wait! Wait, don’t do that. Open it in a tab and watch it when we’re done here. (Obviously.)

In a group full of people who could basically spend all day talking about books (and sometimes we do), this was the thing that broke the ice for me. Ian McKellan. Making eggs.

I couldn’t resist posting a comment. And watching the video again. (He covers proper toast treatment as well.) I spent a few hours going back and forth with humans on a screen, all of us delighted and mystified by the existence of such a video, driven to brainstorming the rest of the series. Sir Ian Makes Everything! There could be special holiday episodes! They’d all be under ten minutes! Sir Ian cookbooks! Sir Ian fan art!

After that day, I found it much easier to post things, much easier to comment and reply to people. I owe what scant comfort in online social spaces I can claim to Sir Ian McKellan. And his eggs.

Is it any wonder that when I needed a moment in Gays of Our Lives to align a few characters who had no reason to be aligned, I thought of that clip again? I hereby officially dedicate that scene in the kitchen of the farmhouse with Emerson, Obie, and Mildred watching Sir Ian make eggs to the astounding community of Hassell and Hall, who have no idea how very much they freaked me the hell out in the beginning. Thanks for being lovely, lads! We should totally watch Sir Ian make eggs again soon.

Have you ever had a real life ice breaker totally change your perspective on other people? Not, like, a manufactured “let us now do awkward ice breakers that make everyone want to hide under their beds”, but an actual moment in the world that made you feel like you were really a part of something? Tell us!

Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and hails from the San Francisco Bay Area. Kris shares a converted garage with a toddler, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Kris is genderqueer and prefers the z-based pronouns because they’re freaking sweet. Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

Connect with Kris:

·         Webiste: krisripper.com

·         Facebook: www.facebook.com/kris.ripper

·         Twitter: twitter.com/SmutTasticKris

Riptide Publishing

(for more info on the Author and the series) 

To celebrate the release of Gays of Our Lives, Kris is giving away your choice of ebook from zir backlist. (Any release from Kris Ripper prior to Gays of Our Lives.) Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 16, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

NOTE: Don't forget that EVERY comment left on every post here at TTC Books and more will be entered into a monthly comment giveaway!