Okay who has been messing with Amazon? I find myself on a list with Cardeno, Aj Rose, Mary Calmes, Marie Sexton, B.G. Thomas? Either I am dreaming or there is something seriously wrong here.
I have to be honest, when my father told me that my writing would never amount to anything? I believed him. I stopped completely, certain that I would never be able to accomplish what others were doing. I would read books and think to myself, -yeah, I could do that-, but would never try because it would hurt too much to be wrong.
When I wrote Pitch, I had so many people encouraging me every step of the way. Then the opportunity to do 500 Miles came along and I just had to grab it.
Looking at this today? I would love to go back in time and tell my fourteen year old self the truth. YouCANdo it.Oh, and to tell my father to bite me. Yeah, that would be sweet, too.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,847 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#9 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Romance
#9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance > Gay Romance
#10 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Gay
About a billion years ago (give or take a few months) I gave up writing. I was told I was wasting my time and what I was doing would never amount to anything. I listened to that voice (it belonged to my father) and let it quell my desire to tell stories. For a time.
Then I met Eden Winters. She had published a book called “The Telling” and it was to be my first male/male romance story. I wrote to tell her how much I enjoyed the book and that started a friendship between the two of us. (BTW, never be afraid to write to an author. They’re amazingly receptive and appreciate hearing that you like their stuff.) One day she asked me if I wrote and I told her no, and then explained why. She convinced me that the voices in my head were more powerful than the ones I heard from my father and I needed to give them room to grow. So I did.
At first there was a story about a young man, Taylor, who is away at college with his best friend, Benny. It speaks of Taylor’s unrequited crush for Jackson, an athlete they knew in high school that now attends the same college. This was just supposed to be a one-off. Something that came to me while I was sleeping and had to get up in the middle of the night to write it all down. However the characters refused to stay quiet and the story morphed. Now the boys are in high school and they are dealing with so many other things.
From that prompt came the story of Mark, who is in love with his brother Eric’s best friend, Jase. Mark’s world is shaken when Eric and Jase ship overseas to join the Army. While overseas, Jase sends Mark a tape that takes his already shaky world and crumbles it to dust.
I fell in love with these boys. They made me smile and cry as I told their story. When I submitted it, I never expected that it would be picked, especially when I found out there were several big names that were also going to try for the same anthology. When Kris contacted me and told me I was receiving a contract (my first) I was stunned and maybe cried just a little.
The story came out on June 7 and the reaction was unlike anything I had expected. People wrote to tell me how much they loved it. Someone wrote and told me what it meant to her. Several folks told me they cried for my boys and their loss. And one of my favorites came from Piper Vaughn and Kris Jacen who told me they wanted to smack one of them when he…well, I don’t want to give away everything.
That said, there are people I need to acknowledge for giving me the strength and encouragement to try because without them I would have given up. Every person listed above is part of that list. But there is also Anne Tenino, Amy Lane, Max Vos, Cate Ashwood, Mary Grzesik, Silvia Violet, Madison Parker, Lauren Lewis, Aj Rose, Amy Peterson, ZAllora Allora, Grace Santiago, Jayden Brooks and so many other people.
Without you people, my guys wouldn’t exist and I wouldn’t be celebrating with each of you today.
I have been fortunate enough to read this prior to release.
I love the way Parker writes. His stories flow seamlessly, and this one is no exception.
And yes, I cried a little at the end.
Not giving anything away, but you’ll really like this one.
MORE please, Parker Williams!
So…when you ask me what I like in a story, the first thing that grabs me is a broken man. Then, you bring in a character who understands him, holds him to his heart and heals him.You had me at hello.This is a beautifully written story. Short, oh-so-sweet, with the right balance of angst and happiness. I do love me a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. Even if it hurts to do so.Parker Williams provided me with an advance reviewer’s copy with the proviso I gave him an honest review. Here’s the best recommendation I can make; I will be buying a copy the day it comes out.Tom
I have a huge soft spot for the wounded character, the one who thinks he’s doing the right thing for everyone, who’s selfless even though what he really needs is to be loved. So this story pushed all my buttons in that regard. I loved Jase. I wanted to beat him, but I understood him. And Mark is fun and gutsy and fights for what he wants. It was fun and hot and I was lucky enough to score the advance copy. Make sure to pick this one up.
She is due to release ‘An Unlocked Heart’, the story of Leo Hart and his young lover, Alex. After that will be Trusting Thomas, another in the Collars and Cuffs world.
Scott Keating – American
Ben Winters
The following book is in the same world, but takes place separately. It’s the story of Scott, a young man from the United States, who has absolutely no world experience. His parents keep him on a short leash, not allowing him to attend public school, insisting that free time be used studying. When they gift Scott with a Nook he opens a world outside his small, enclosed life and meets Jeff, a young man from England who invites Scott come live with him. Scott wants this with all his heart. To finally be able to stand up and be himself.
When he arrives in England, though, Jeff isn’t there to greet him. Unsure of what to do, Scott sits and cries. He has no money. He doesn’t want to return home. Into his life walks Ben Winters, someone who will change Scott’s life forever.
500 Miles will be published on June 7th, 2013 by MLR Press.
The story of Mark and Jase, told from Mark’s viewpoint. How Mark has loved Eric’s best friend, Jase, since Mark was fourteen. When Jase and Eric decide to join the military, Mark is devastated, but Jase leaves him a gift, a promise, that makes Mark’s heart soar.
When Eric sends Mark a tape and tells him that Jase has met someone, will Mark be able to be strong? When a tragedy occurs, will Mark step up to help Jase or will he allow Jase to push him away again?
