Hot College Nights: Townie and the Twink

Hi there, guys!

First off, I want to thank Heidi, Marie, Evaine, and ShawyJeann for having me on the blog today. I’m here to talk about my latest release, TOWNIE AND THE TWINK, which is book 3 in my Men of Holsum College series.

Townie, as I like to call it, is the story of a gay college student named Gabe and a local transfer student named Nick. Gabe can tell from across the room that Nick is same-sex oriented, but Nick himself hasn’t admitted as much to himself. To make matters worse, Nick has a bro-crush on his best friend from high school, a guy that is absolutely straight.

My favorite thing about writing Townie was that I got to explore the college vs. college town dynamic. As anyone knows whose lived in a college town (either as a student or as a resident) knows, there can be a lot of tension between the community and the school.

A college is a world onto itself, full of members who may or may not have the same opinions, desires, experiences, and attitudes as those in the surrounding residents. So Nick, as a guy torn between two worlds, experiences this dichotomy head-on.

For all kids, college is a time where they break away from their previous lives. But for Nick, the journey is tougher because he doesn’t leave home. Nick must deal with the changes in himself and his life all while still living under his mother’s roof and constantly running into his old friends.

I adored writing Nick’s slow realization that he was in love with his best friend, and that his friend was incapable of loving him back. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go there. After all, in romance, the characters are supposed to only have eyes for each other, right?

But I came to realize that Nick wasn’t in love with John (his former best friend) so much as John was a placeholder for feelings Nick wasn’t ready to face. Nick wanted to believe he and his best friend would spend their lives hanging out, being one another’s confidant and crutch. Nick’s love of John was like a twelve-year-old girl being in love with Harry Styles. It’s a fantasy. A very safe fantasy.

When Nick realizes the truth about John, it’s painful. So painful, in fact, I wasn’t sure I could write it. Because that’s a whole ’nother thing about growing up. We all realize that things we hope, and pray, and believe are not always true. And it hurts, even if we do have someone to help us pick up the pieces.

So, yeah. Townie and the Twink is about growing up. The good, the bad, and the painful. Oh, and it’s also about realizing your gay, finding your first love, and the hot sex that ensues.

See? There’s always a silver lining.

Come back Friday for an extended excerpt of Townie and the Twink!

* * * * *

Buy Link:
http://www.bookstrand.com/townie-and-the-twink

* * * * *

Blurb:

Insightful to a fault, Gabe knows Nick’s gay even if Nick doesn’t. And after seeing how the townie looks at his “buddy”, Gabe knows Nick is in love with a guy who’ll never love him back. So Gabe invites Nick to campus parties and to hang out with new people. But soon their friendship turns physical and Gabe wonders if he’s in just as much denial as Nick is.

Nick’s straight—or so he’s always assumed. But he can’t deny that the things he’s doing with Gabe are hot. More than that, he likes Gabe in a way he’s never liked anyone else. Well, anyone else except his high school friend, John.

The hardest thing to give up is a fantasy, and the hardest thing to face is the truth.  But if Nick wants the man standing in front of him, he’ll have to give up the one he never had.

* * * * *

Bio:

Retired party girl and science fiction enthusiast, Daisy Harris spends most of her time writing sexy romance and plotting the fall of Western civilization. Her books can be found on Amazon, Nook, and wherever else fine erotic romance is sold.

Ms. Harris lives in Seattle, where she tortures her husband by making it rain. She enjoys watching bridges cause traffic, watching football games cause traffic, and blithely wearing wool socks with sandals.

She has two little girls who’ve challenged Ms. Harris’ feminist tendencies by insisting that pink clothes and high heels are appropriate for every occasion, including rock climbing and camping trips.

Daisy writes M/M romance about gods, zombies, and college boys.

Website: www.thedaisyharris.com

Holsum College Tumblr:
http://holsumcollege.tumblr.com/

On Twitter as @thedaisyharris