Coffee, Mon Ami
“I went out to the kitchen to make coffee – yards of coffee. Rich, strong, bitter, boiling hot, ruthless, depraved. The life blood of tired men.” (Raymond Chandler – The Long Goodbye)
It’s funny where story ideas come from. My novel, Last Stop sprung up from one little sentence, which I penned only to illustrate the difference between passive voice and past continuous tense. It was about two guys in a diner, one of whom could fix a mean cup of joe. That should’ve been the end of it, but my thoughts kept circling around the sentence like buzzards. Who are these guys, and what are they doing in the diner? I kept asking myself. And what’s with the coffee?
I’m an addict, no doubt about it. I start every day with a bowl of coffee. Without it I’m a zombie—slow, dumb, and homicidal. Fortunately, new studies keep coming out about the health benefits of coffee. It’s said to lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes. It’s shown to protect mice against Alzheimer’s disease. I didn’t know mice had this problem, but I’m very happy that now they have a way to fight back.
After all the pondering, I got the idea to write a short story around the magical properties of a mug of java—not unlike Jordan Castillo Price and friends do about chocolate in the Petit Morts series. Hell, I should write an entire series of them. There could be as many stories as types of coffee—from the dainty looking but lethal-as-a-ninja assassin espressos, to the exuberantly frothy cappuccinos. Oh, and let’s not forget the exotic types like strong and sweet Vietnamese ice coffee and that rough thug, the Turkish coffee.
I planned to set my story in a diner, and have one of the protagonists saved from deadly disaster because they run out of coffee grinds and he has to go to the stock room for more. Immediately, I got stuck with my story. My protagonists, Sam and Jay, refused to be stuffed into a short story. They wanted space to roam, romance, and do kinky stuff. To convince me, they kept whispering their backstories. Sam turned out to have lots of secrets in his shady past, and Jay’s youthful exuberance hid a few surprises too. Never one to say no to handsome men, I gave in and started to write the novel.
In the end the book’s not about coffee at all, but it pops up here and there. The story starts with a diner. The scene where Sam—temporarily—avoids a lethal situation by being in the storage room at a pivotal moment, is still there.
In case you haven’t guessed it yet, all the photos here are gratuitous coffee and man porn—except the one with the rodent. (Unless there are rodents reading this, in which case it might qualify as titillating.) I figure I should finish in style, with two of my favorite men:
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WIN A COPY OF LAST STOP: All comments to this post will enter a drawing for an ebook copy of the novel. Please remember to leave your email addy, so we can contact you.
Sam Mayne’s life is as dull as the dishwater in his small-town Montana diner, and that’s just how he wants it. Quiet, uneventful, safe from his shadowy past. The breezy young drifter who answers his help-wanted ad makes him uneasy in ways he dare not examine too closely. Except he can’t help but be pulled in by Jay Colby’s spunky attitude, endless stories, and undeniable sex appeal.
Fresh off yet another romantic disaster, Jay doesn’t understand his attraction to the taciturn line cook, but there’s no fighting the chemistry that lands them in bed together. Where Sam’s subtly dominant streak takes command, and Jay delights in discovering the pleasures of his submissive side.
Safe in the assumption their relationship is temporary, neither lover holds back when the heat is on. Until Sam’s deadly past catches up with them with a vengeance, forcing him to drop the life he’s built, pick up his lover, and run. As danger cuts closer to the bone, Sam and Jay are forced to face the truth. About themselves, about the depth of their love—and the newly forged bonds that are about to be tested to the limit.
About the author:
Under a prickly, cynical surface Lou Harper is an incorrigible romantic. Her love affair with the written word started at a tender age. There was never a time when stories weren’t romping around in her head. She is currently embroiled in a ruinous romance with adjectives. In her free time Lou stalks deviant words and feral narratives.
Lou’s favorite animal is the hedgehog. She likes nature, books, movies, photography, and good food. She has a temper and mood swings.
Lou has misspent most of her life in parts of Europe and the US, but is now firmly settled in Los Angeles and worships the sun. However, she thinks the ocean smells funny. Lou is a loner, a misfit, and a happy drunk.
Lou’s Website: louharper.com
Heidi Cullinan
Evaine
Marie Sexton
Shawny
Looks like a great book. kbmckee at mail dot com
“Without it I’m a zombie—slow, dumb, and homicidal…”
LOL. I couldn’t have said it better myself! Great post and the book sounds awesome, so count me in please.
Is anybody truly alive before their coffee??? Sound like a book I’d love to read please.
Thanks for the gratutitous Jude/Ewan/Coffee porn!
OceanAkers @ aol.com
I’ve been stalking this book trying to win it everywhere I can. Please enter me for a chance
I love the last pic, that’s great!
Congrats on the new release. Can’t wait to read this one!
lkbherring64(at)gmail(dot)com
Nice article. Great pics. Have been loving the other reviews for Last Stop, so would love a chance to win. Cheers.
This book is on my wish list to buy from Amazon. I will hold off now in case I win it. Can’t wait to read it!
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Looks like my kind of read,adding to my list.
cvsimpkins@msn.com
I only started drinking coffee about three years ago. I still only drink it at work in the morning. I also like it very weak and lukewarm. *runs and ducks from flung pots of coffee* There are a lot of things I’d rather drink than a cup of Starbucks. Maybe if I took milk and sugar but I only like black. *shudder*
It’s cool to see how story ideas morph and change. Don’t enter me in the draw as I already read the book and really enjoyed it. Great job.
MMMmmm coooofffffeeeee. I don’t think I could live without my daily pot.
Oh, please count me in for the draw! I’ve got this one just waiting on my Wish List until my next Book Buying Bonanza!
qbeeqt @ yahoo . com
Oh I’d love to win this one! and ‘m bookmarking it in case I’m not, love the first image especially.
snakewhissperer@gmail.com
Cheers
Debbie
“My protagonists, Sam and Jay, refused to be stuffed into a short story.”
I love when characters really take over a story!
gregory @ kompes . com
Oh this sounds good! Definitely need to grab a copy!
Nice Chandler quote–I never knew that one! God yes, coffee (and chocolate, come to think of it) are two non-negotiables in my life. There’s a bakery in Palo Alto that displays a blurb about a study that showed coffee drinkers have fewer suicidal feelings, which sounds about right. And BLESS YOU for that shot of Ewan in the bathtub…a jewel of a post, all around!
(And I’ve been eyeing LAST STOP for a while, so please count me in…)
I am looking forward to this book. Sounds so exciting. And I LOVE a good romance with drama to be had.
gigglesvi88@hotmail.com
Coffee: can’t face a classroom of teenagers without it!
I love all your books – count me in.
I love Raymod Chandler. He had such way with words.
Did you all know that Jude Law and Ewan McGregor used to be roommates in real life? Just imagine it. I’m slashing them in my head already. (Must not spend day looking on the web for Jude/Ewan rps.)
Tam, with perseverance you can work your way up to Starbucks.
Whoever the winner is, grats in advance. I hope you’ll enjoy this mildly kinky story.
You should not have told me this about Ewan and Jude! Now I will never look at them without picturing them in bed together! Struggling young actors so poor they can only afford one bed… Now loving each other from afar with only their memories of their romance… Oh, no this is not good! It must be slashed!
I’m not a big coffee drinker..well except iced coffee
Last Stop sounds really good.Thanks for the chance to win a copy
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Considering some fellow students do resembel zombies in our morning lectures, I’m happy to know that it’s not completely unhealthy, even for mice!
Please count me in, Last Stop is one of mine many wishlist books.
Jibriel.O at web dot de
I love the smell and the taste of coffee although it doesn’t help me wake up. Sounds like a great book.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
I can’t drink coffee (Far too bitter, no matter how I doctor it up!) but I am kind of missing the smell. I’ve considered occasionally brewing a pot up just for that…
tracykitn AT yahoo.com
I like by coffee mochaed
Count me in for the giveaway please.
penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
Cappuccino, espresso, Turkish, hot or iced: bring it on I’ll tackle them all. My wishlist collapsed when I added this one, guess I’ll have to start an auxiliary list.
This sounds like an interesting read. Please sign me up.
~~Courtney S
aunt_cori(at)yahoo.com
Oh, and coffee is the nectar of the gods!! God bless the inventor of the Keurig…lol
Oh yum…kink and coffee! Two of my favorite things! Count me in, please.
cchemme@gmail.com
Heh, Great post! I really enjoyed it~
Last Stop sounds great! Must have this book~ lol Thanks for the contest. Please count me in! :3
Judi
arella3173_loveless(at)yahoo(dot)com
Congrats on the new release. This book sounds amazing. Can’t wait to read it. Coffee, I can’t live without it. It helps me function and be a nice person.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
The book sounds great. I share you love of coffee, although I can only have one cup a day. I make darn sure that cup counts
talia628@yahoo.com
I prefer my caffiene cold…Mountain Dew anyone? Love the Dew!!! Finished Last Stop yesterday…Good job!!! I liked Jay and Sam quite a bit. Thanks, Mi
Chellebe at comcast dot net
Woot another coffee-a-holic. I salute you *grins*
This sounds like an edge of a seat ride.
rainedelight@yahoo.com
Sounds great count me in!
This book sounds great! Please count me in!
books2read69@hotmail(dot)com
Lou, this Blog is Perfect for you then…..Coffee & Porn in the Morning……& Marie and Heidi are soooo Great to Us by starting our days off Ohhhhh soooooo Great by putting BIG Smiles
on our faces…..& bringing Us Fantastic Authors like yourself! But back to coffee, I cannot function without at least that 1st cup of Coffee in the Morning & I get it even faster now because of my Keurig, the machine is THE best invention………Hmmmmm maybe not THE Best Invention LOL Ohhhh I’m sooooo Bad!!!! 
LOL Ok back to why you’re here on these Great Ladies Blog 
I would very much appreciate to be considered for a chance to win in your giveaway of a copy of your release, “Last Stop”. Thank You.
Take care Ladies,
PaParanormalFan (Renee’ S.)
paranormalromancefan at yahoo dot com
As my Hubby once said: Sleep is only a symtom of coffeine deprivation.
Yes, I am an addict. And yes, please, I would love to win.